‘The Dr Phil Show’ uncovers new form of vigilantism by ‘pedophile hunters’
Wednesday’s episode of ‘The Dr. Phil Show’ featured a unique phenomenon. Vigilante “pedophile-hunters” are a thing. Dr. Phil described it as a “controversial form of vigilantism that law enforcement is just not in favor of.”
What these hunters, who are regular citizens, do is they bait potential child molesters to arrive at a certain location. They then catch them on camera and post their details online.
According to a 2019 report in Quartz, criminologists view this phenomenon as “a new expression of the town-square execution,” noting that it is a product of a host of influences such as reality TV and tabloid culture, amplified of course by the internet. The report also added that this global phenomenon has led to a number of suicides in several countries, adding that the hunters’ efforts can be counterproductive, endangering ongoing investigations.
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First of all, someone needs to step up and define the word “paedophile” for all the idiots in this country (and the U.K. apparently). I’m sick of the term pedo being used for EVERY offense with a minor.
Let’s call Elvis Presley a pedo and take his legacy out of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. He was 24 and Priscilla was 14. Post pubescent teenagers do not make the older person a “pedo”. Let’s set this straight once and for all.
Second; Did these guys just get off the set of the Broadway version of “Grease”? WTF is with those out of date hairdos?
I’m willing to bet my life savings that any one of them would catch a sex offense for trying to make it with a drunk woman at a Super Bowl party.
See, it’s guys like this who think getting put on the SOR involves ONLY sexual deeds towards a child. In fact, most of our society thinks that, thanks to fake news. So many young people in each generation get caught having CONSENSUAL sex in PUBLIC PLACES; a registerable offense (for whatever reason).
Most, if not all psychologists, counselors, and case workers that I have had contact with hate sex offenders. That being the case, how is anyone convicted of a sexual offense supposed to get the un-biased help that they need?
The dudes that are stalking sex offenders need to get a life, and stop trying to be a pseudo super hero! It amazes me how obsessed people are in this country about sex. Legislators keep passing these knee jerk reaction laws based on emotion. Most of the laws passed are un-constitutional. The misguided and plain false propaganda perpetuated by the news media is astounding!
I find all this to be a regression back to the dark ages. It seems like the smarter we get, the dumber we become. All I know is that I have been dealing with this crap for years and am really sick and tired of it all. Would really like to leave the planet if it were possible.
So, we need to keep hanging tough! Keep doing the best we can each day, and keep fighting the good fight wherever and whenever we can! Not only fight for yourself, but for the next generation that they don’t have to be emasculated by these insane sex offense laws.
And I would like to wish everyone out there a very a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hopefully this year will be a year that we win some monumental life changing court cases that will give some relief.
How can you have such empathy for child molesters? Police are simply not doing enough to lock them up so the next best thing is to expose them so everyone knows to keep their children away from them. All you seem to be worried about is what if a predator kills themselves. How about what if one of these guys that was exposed, wasn’t, then they rape and kill a child? Would that be ok because at least they weren’t exposed before hand and took the easy way out?
You think an online sting like this will prevent the next child rape-murder?
Has it ever? Even once?
Please.
Fortunately, such horrific incidents are extremely rare. No thanks to uninformed individuals such as you who feel you have some sort of solution.
Also, I personally am anti-suicide, but I see we have a difference of opinion on that.
Nicholas, what are you even going on about and whose comment are you responding to?
Also, police don’t put people in lock up, the courts do that.
Ok Nicholas, point taken. Just so happens that I agree with you about the exposure, frankly anyone going somewhere they shouldn’t go for the purpose of doing something they should not be doing deserves what they get if for no other reason than being stupid. That said, you possess the same ignorant and false assumptions about RP that the rest of the population does. While twenty or twenty five years ago when the hysteria began we had no data on the issue of sex offenders, today we do and that data proves your and society’s beliefs about RP is FALSE.
So, do you educate and inform yourself about the facts on sex offenders? Of course you don’t, to do so would be to realize you are wrong on your assumptions about us. But it goes further than that, admitting that you were wrong takes maturity and courage qualities absent in people who believe like you do. And, even if you did admit you were wrong, based on facts of course, you would not want put any energy or offer any commitment to make things right, that is until you or someone you cared about found themselves on the registry, but then it is too late.
So good luck to you Nicholas and I hope you never have you live life as we do, but at the rate society is making people into sex offenders, over a million nation wide now, it is only a matter of time before you see someone you know in this forum.
Not only that but referring to a recent article right here on F.A.C, some vigilantes went after and killed who they thought was a sex offender but ended up being an innocent person that had nothing to do with any crime or the person they thought he was.
So , Nicholas… play this scenario out for me and try to understand and keep up. And I welcome all of you to comment on this.
Say your on an ADULT only website, one where you must agree with theTOU (terms of use ) , and say you’ve been on such a website, like craigslist, obviously before FOSTA and SESTA when after those happened the personal section was removed. Not to stop sex trafficking, absolutely not. But to save Craig Danielson from being sued. But anyway, say you’ve used the service before, whether to find consentual sex with another adult over the age of 18, or maybe you posted or responded to an ad in the past looking for love. I’ve used craigslist for years, to sell stuff, maybe find another ADULT to have some fun with, or as I have also personally found, love. I met the most amazing and beautiful woman on Craigslist, and I / we plan to be wed. She’s the greatest thing I’ve ever found on this earth, she’s my world. So let’s not say anything about it being impossible or just a place people go to for casual consentual sex. And I’ve also just read the personal ads with no intention of anything but seeing what was on there, have a laugh, see what some people have as a fetish…etc.
And yes, unequivocally there are and have always been “fakes” and people who lie and ” catfish ” on any dating site or app. But what if you run across an ad, which stated that the person who posted it is of age, as they need to be. But you get a response, from a real person, but unbeknownst to you, they reply once or twice, you realize ok, this person is real, so at least you feel comfortable your talking with an actual real person. But, but then they say, oh… by the way I’m 13 year’s old and a runaway.
What do you do? It’s not as if you know for certain this person is who they say, some college kid playing out some sick joke, some 400 lb man having a laugh because he’s got nothing better to do, or perhaps it’s bait for yet another “swatting ” case. You’ve got no idea who your speaking with online as EVERYONE has completever anonymity online, nobody knows if your talking to a person who says she female and is actually male, you just don’t know as the internet has complete anonymity with whomever your speaking with.
But let’s play with the scenario of someone telling you there a 13 year old runaway. It’s not as if you can just call the police, what are they going to do? They have no idea or resources to look into it, if they even care in the first place. That point was even made on the Dr Phil show, that police won’t even show up if you called and said that. So, as a man with morals, what are you to do?? If you say you care about others, especially kids, isn’t it your duty as a man to find out if this person is real, telling the truth or not? If your a real man, and your care about others, I say yes, yes you have an obligation to find out if it is a real minor in real danger.
But what you didn’t know was that it was a sting operation being run by the ICAC and MECTF. You are told to bring gifts, you don’t. Your asked questions of a sexual nature, but don’t answer them or ask any. You try to get this unknown entity into a public place, to find out if it’s in fact a real minor in danger of being raped or worse. Well, in Washington state as soon as you decided to go and try to see for yourself, the minute you step out of your door, and in some cases you don’t even need do that. In Washington state that’s called “taking a substantial step ” and guess what, your arrested for attempt rape 2nd degree of a child, plus communication with a minor, even though there was never a minor, and never the possibility of even meeting one, your going to jail. Your now ,at least in Washington state facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 58.5 months sentence minimum to LIFE in prison. If the officer you spoke to says hey, I have a friend who house I’m at. And you still try to go to a public place and pay absolutely no attention to the other fake person the ICAC and police made up, your attempted rape charges are now x2. So that’s a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to LIFE in prison, only for trying to do the right thing. Tell me how that’s fair, legal, or morally ok?
Well, it isn’t. But in Washington state that’s the reality for over 300 men right now. Sure, I’m absolutely sure some had I’ll intentions, but not all, for 100 percent not all. And I can say that because that was not, not ever my intention. But here I sit facing 10-14 years in prison to LIFE. All predicated on a lie told by the police.
So, you basically reversed the roles these tool bags played, yet in Washington state your probably going to prison for perhaps life now.
And why, for justice? For or to get “dangerous predators ” off the streeet… nope. MONEY. PURE AND SIMPLE MONEY . They get federal government grant money from innocent men for every single conviction they get. Roughly 100,000.00 per conviction. Most people take olea bargains, as has been said people, and likely people who would be on your jury if you chose to go to court are already prejudice and have a predetermined mindset, so right off the bat your jury is bias. Entrapment defense strategy isn’t allowed. Your facing years and years in prison if not LIFE. So, innocent men (and women) take plea deals out of fear. Fear because of the draconian style laws in Washington state. So Nicholas, if you think your a good person and good guy who would be doing the right thing, you’d be in jail or prison because you thought you were doing the right thing. And don’t forget about CC ( community custody, probation ) for a year to three if, if you made it through and out. Lifetime registration. And don’t forget about if you had kids, you’ll never see them again. You’ll most likely never find love as your now a registered sex offender. Your friends are gone, because of the heanous accusations against you. Pretty bleak scenario. So before you think everyone is evil, do some research. Write legislation, speak up for those who have lost their lives and voice.
And can we please not forget another ridiculous and horrible FACT regarding the USA…. child marriage is legal in almost every state to this very day. Yep, 10 year old boy and girls are being married off before even becoming a teenager. Before your even in high school, your married to a 40, 50, 60 year old man at the age of 10, or younger. But that’s just A ok with the government.
Maestro
Very logical comment. Also what about Jerry Lee Lewis , she was 13 , but back then it wasn’t a crime. It was just she’s sure young. Back then young girls had brains and could think for themselves and decide what is right and wrong and mold their future as they felt best. Now days young girls are considered dumb as a box of rocks till they turn 18 then all of a sudden like magic “ ding “ their the smartest creatures on the planet. Just ask the “Me too movement “. Not only that but it’s a great way to get rich really fast. Where as all this modern intelligence coming from?
Someone that age just isn’t in a position to consent to such a thing with an adult— their brains aren’t ready. I recall that that’s FAC’s position on it also. And it was true back in the day, in my view
What Jerry Lee Lewis did back then did not become a police matter— the laws were different— but was virtually career-ending for him, and you can’t blame people for their reactions at the time. Elvis,on the other hand, somehow got away with it, not only with Priscilla but others in her age (or so they say), and we have always treated Elvis’ predilection as some sort of laughing matter, but probably we shouldn’t.
On the plus side, at least we now know that being a sex offender won’t bar someone from induction into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame!
Jacob and Maestro
Appreciate your comments they are well taken.
As far as these young people are concerned I agree they need guidance , restrictions, and good advice as well as punishment when deemed necessary. But isn’t this is what parents or guardians are for. For the state to take this away from them and decide for themselves how a parent should be raising their kids is immoral and an expanse of power not there’s to take. Just because they feel they know more than parents do. Not only are they doing this but punishing those who don’t follow the States opinion as to age restrictions and conduct. Age accountability varies greatly as to when and how much freedom a young person is capable of handling. So for the state to set rules is totally wrong.
Learning is a continuous process from time of conception to death. You can’t set an age on when a person knows enough to keep himself out of trouble.
I can understand minimum limits to purchasing things like alcohol , cigarettes and drugs, these are commodities. The states have authority over commerce.
But here we’re talking about morals . What authority should the State have to tell you how to raise your kids and what to teach them on religious issues. I think very little. If there is problems here it should be taken up in civil courts with the offended one getting a say on the matter ,no matter what age.
When a person chooses to no longer be under there parents rules and the parent goes along with it then the young person is responsible for his own actions and decisions.
I was on my own at 13 working and paying my own way, by my 16 th birthday I bought a car and was on my own, At 17 traveled al over the country working and doing very well financially. It’s not a one shoe fits all world. Sure I made mistakes but chose to learn from them and not repeat them , I’m still learning. Enough said.
Actually, the laws were pretty much the same back in Lewis’s and Presley’s day as they are now. But of course from state to state the age of consent was always different. Elvis “got away with it” because Priscilla begged her parents not to press charges. Today the state can press charges and even press charges on the parents who didn’t notify police of such a relationship.
I’m not defending Elvis for chasing after a 14 yr old but I want to also point out that he DID end up marrying her. Many of us (myself included) may have had similar encounters with post pubescent teens and – had law enforcement NOT been involved- maybe the relationship could have gone to the alter instead of a prison cell. JUST. SAYING.
My point? Simple: Just because we may have had a rendezvous with a teenager doesn’t mean we’re going to KEEP going after OTHER teenagers. This is why I feel the title of the law should be changed to “Sexual Misconduct” and eliminate the word “assault” and don’t have it be a registerable offense. It can still be an illegal thing to do but it doesn’t come close to the idea behind “Megan’s Law”. Not close at all.
I’m shocked that quack “Doctor Shill,” shows any compassion for “sex offenders.” A quick review of his past shows exposes him as a hater of registered citizens and their families.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrPhilShow/search?query=sex+offenders
His duplicity is nauseating.
The episode on Dec. 11th was only part one. Part two followed on Dec. 12th. In part two, Dr.Phil and LE admonished against so called pedophile hunters.
Police have been doing this all along and getting away with it so why can’t the public do the same.
Reading some of the FB comments on this. One of these so called “pedophile hunters” is said to be a drug addict. Another one (Shane) had a decoy (female) who is now wanted for the sexual assault of a child. The group “Creep Catchers” is complaining that since they declined to participate in the show, after being invited to do so, they have now lost their support from law enforcement. They’re claiming that the Dr. Phil show has ruined this for them.
Here is a clip of the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeaz4odF_GI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0L9nZTKKkQyeMWw-tl0JpsgffqdX3j3INJMqCw5iMFEqnm9IMRgFLKiDU
We’ll see if today they focus on other realities of this, such as this:
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/how-law-enforcement-turns-law-abiding-men-into-sexual-predators/67-236499759
Or read this: https://news.sky.com/story/paedophile-hunters-destroying-peoples-lives-for-facebook-likes-police-chief-warns-11716768
Or this: https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/07/gay-couple-falsely-accused-paedophile-hunters-nonces-facebook-live-11054932/
It’s funny how th we Knights in Shining Armor who have nothing better to do with their lives are not fighting for Domestic Violence of Women and Children. Aww that doesn’t quite catch headlines hmm?
Someone should ask one of these heros in their Facebook pages why they aren’t actually saving the world like they claim to be. Let us know what they say 🙂
Here is a link to the article (the word “SOURCE “above is not a link) https://meaww.com/the-dr-phil-show-vigilantism-pedophile-hunters-us-law-enforcement-public-shaming-honeytrap-police