I was hoping with everything else going on there wouldn't be time or money for this crap. Ten guys in Ohio get busted for "importuning and attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor" in a sting with cops posing as underage on hookup apps. Ryan Smith, age 42, "allegedly began engaging with an undercover police officer, who was posing as a 15-year-old male, on the internet site Grindr." During the conversation, the undercover officer informed Smith that he was 15 years old and pictures were exchanged between the two that only showed faces. News article is linked below. Usual "interagency" operation, including the Secret Service (?). Okay, #1, there are no real minors involved. Attempt is a bogus charge half the time anyway. Having sex with a minor who does not actually exist is impossible, and attempting a crime that is impossible to actually commit is extra bogus. #2, Grindr is an adults-only hookup app right? So if a 15 yo was on there, he shouldn't have been, and the only reason to be there is because you are looking for sex. So much for the "predator" angle. #3, the fact that some horny dude on Grindr bites when you dangle a 15 yo in front of him is no evidence at all of any propensity to seek out sex with underage boys. This "crime" is completely manufactured by the cops -- without their provocation it doesn't exist. (Of course it also doesn't exist without somebody being dumb enough to fall for it, but we don't have enought jails to lock up everyone who is stupid when horny.) Smith was the oldest of the 10. The rest ranged in age from 22 to 37. Not sure why Smith can't get off just by saying he thought the alleged victim was over 18 and just pretending to be younger. I bet Smith didn't admit to being 42. Isn't pretending to be younger than you really are pretty standard hookup behavior? hugzu ;-p [@nonymouse] [Guardster] [Proxify] [Anonymisierungsdienst] |