06-02-2005 19:04									#1
	Megan's Law of Unintended Consequences Tired of ads?

You know what I love about America? Our ingenuity and can-do spirit!

quote: Californian Trolled Sex Offender List for Dates Fri Feb 4, 6:38 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A convicted child molester used a public database of California sex criminals to solicit men for sex, in what police said on Friday was the first case of its kind. They said Glen Westberg, 35, wrote letters seeking dates to several other offenders listed on an official state Internet site. The data, assembled under the U.S. "Megan's Law" to protect children from sexual predators, is intended to warn citizens of potential nearby threats. The Internet site came online in California in December. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) signed a law in September allowing its creation. "He viewed the probationer's photograph, thought he was cute, noticed that his commitment offense was the same as his and at that time asked if they would like to hook up," said Bill Ahern, commander of San Mateo County's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement task force. One of the contacted men told police. Law enforcement officials sent an agent who resembled the targeted man to meet Westberg at a coffee shop in Redwood City, south of San Francisco. Police confronted Westberg, who had shown up 30 minutes early for the rendezvous. He confessed that he had contacted several men in violation of his probation conditions, Ahern said. Police arrested Westberg, a shipping clerk at a San Jose mall, on Thursday; he faces up to six months in prison if convicted.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...internet_sex_dc

I'm sure I'm supposed to be outraged one someone's behalf here, but for the life of me I can't figure out whose.

	06-02-2005 19:13									#2
	Put an end to popups!

I'm glad he's headed back to prison. These guys shouldn't ever get out.

	06-02-2005 21:08									#3
	Full PM-box? Change here!

But, why is he going to jail? He simply looked up other sex offenders (who are probably all adults) and asked for a date. What's illegal about it? Except if they are getting him on harrasment?

	06-02-2005 21:24									#4
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Though I don't get why it's illegal, either.

	06-02-2005 21:36									#5
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

Looking up the data base it seems there is one sex offender in my area with about 3 more within 10-15 miles. I didn't know that. When I went to the web site it had disclaimers about how it is illegal to use this data to do anything other then assessing risk; what ever the heck that means.

	06-02-2005 21:39									#6
	Increase the size of your Attachments

It means that if you use the list to track down and beat up convicted sex offenders they'll force you to say "sorry".

	06-02-2005 21:42									#7
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui But, why is he going to jail? He simply looked up other sex offenders (who are probably all adults) and asked for a date. What's illegal about it? Except if they are getting him on harrasment?

It says that he was in violation of his parole

quote: He confessed that he had contacted several men in violation of his probation conditions

	06-02-2005 21:44									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui But, why is he going to jail? He simply looked up other sex offenders (who are probably all adults) and asked for a date. What's illegal about it? Except if they are getting him on harrasment?

From the story...

quote: He confessed that he had contacted several men in violation of his probation conditions

Probably has a clause that he can't associate with other convicted felons... a standard line in all parole arangements.

	06-02-2005 22:20									#9
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Hey is General Ludd your DL, Ming?

	06-02-2005 22:25									#10
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quote: Probably has a clause that he can't associate with other convicted felons... a standard line in all parole arangements.

obviously the law doesnt cover the.... kind of association that he was looking for!!!
it was all in the name of love, he should be freed!

	06-02-2005 22:46									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Yeah, maybe he can argue that the spirit of that prohibition was to prevent criminal conspiracies, but he just wanted some romance from people of a common background .

	06-02-2005 23:18									#12
	Remove this text

I don't see the problem with this. Maybe they can convert them to a normal sexual lifestyle. Yes I know, that's kind of silly, as we all know gays, can't be converted. But as gays would be the first to point out, sex offenders aren't the same as gays.

	07-02-2005 02:24									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

I'd rather have them dating each other than my kids.

	07-02-2005 22:01									#15
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui Yeah, maybe he can argue that the spirit of that prohibition was to prevent criminal conspiracies, but he just wanted some romance from people of a common background .

...Unless they get together and decide that what they really want is a double date!

	07-02-2005 22:07									#16
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

* alva thinks of setting up a niche dating agency...

	07-02-2005 23:01									#17
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Dr Strangelove I'd rather have them dating each other than my kids.

Perhaps, their intent was to do a little teamwork on a project of common interest.