Paging Bill O'Reilly

Interesting that the determinate case, for now, involves a former assistant solicitor.

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - They are accused of preying on children, and some have even pleaded guilty to these crimes. Dozens of internet sex predator convictions could now be overturned.

Since 2004 there have been 84 arrests, all men who thought they were talking to 13 or 14-year-old boys and girls online. Twenty-four have already pleaded guilty.

"They're guilty. We know they're guilty. You ought to read this stuff. It will make you sick," says Attorney General Henry McMaster.

But some of them may soon receive a get out of jail free card. A ruling by Spartanburg Circuit Judge Mark Hayes has put the state's internet predator program in jeopardy.

McMaster says, "We think this order by the judge is wrong and will be reversed on appeal."

It stems from the case of Anthony Odom, 33, an attorney and former assistant solicitor in Aiken.

Odom was arrested for having sexual chats with an officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. But before Odom went to trial, Judge Hayes called into question the procedure authorities used to track down Odom and other internet predator suspects, because an internet screen name could belong to anyone around the world.

Comments

[chris]

SC has internet access?? Huh.

[sclowcountry]

Yep. lectricity too.

We love watchin the bug zapper at night.

You should visit sometime.

[Phoenix]

The wheel fell off the cart that horse was pushing. Christ, what about putting the goal first for a change.

[Bill Adkins]

Maybe O'Reilly could check this out too. The Clark County Sheriff's Department investigated an allegation of criminal deviate conduct last month against county Republican Chairman Glenn Murphy Jr., but no charges have been filed, Sheriff Danny Rodden said yesterday.

Murphy announced yesterday that he had stepped down from the party post as well as chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, the same day a report by the sheriff's office on the investigation was posted on a blog listed on the Indiana Democratic Party Web site.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/NEWS02/708081185

[Andrew Bryant]

I'm starting to believe that all these people who go soft on child rapists and child sex predators have a vested interest in down playing the severity of these crimes. For those of you from Reo Linda, that means they are guilty themselves of some of the same crimes. Child porn, molestation, rape, etc...

Here's a prime example: Charles Rust-Tierney, the former president of the Virginia chapter of the ACLU. He was arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography.

So he was arrested for child pornography. That doesn't mean he's guilty of advocating for softer penalties. Your right. But...Keep reading...

Rust Tierney coaches various youth sports teams in and around Arlington, Virginia, according to court documents.

In the past, Rust-Tierney had argued against restricting Internet access in public libraries in Virginia, writing, "Recognizing that individuals will continue to behave responsibly and appropriately while in the library, the default should be maximum, unrestricted access to the valuable resources of the Internet."

Still, that doesn't mean he represents the "child rapists" lobby. Yes it does. If you bring the consequences of his actions to their logical conclusion, that's exactly what he's advocating. The same could be said for the judges and prosecutors who are setting a dangerous precedence in so many high profile (Bill O'Reilly segments) cases.

[Bill Adkins]

Then there's the Georgia prosecutor handing out kiddie porn. "A federal prosecutor wants a Georgia district attorney to stop giving out copies of a videotape used as evidence in a teenage sex case that has drawn national attention.' "Douglas County District Attorney David McDade has estimated he has given the tape to about three dozen people " http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/13/teen.sex/index.html