Speaking from a family member's point of view, that is of an indicted/convicted man, I'm glad that at least one person doesn't send out hate towards these people. my father is one that no one would ever believe would view these images, and yet when it was publicized, people turned their backs on him as if they didn't know him anymore. well I assure you, my father is the same man, he's not a pedophile, only now he's a broken, shamed person who doesn't believe that there is any quality of life left and will hang his head in misery ans shame from now on, go to prison for at least five years, register as a sex offender, lose his rights as an American citizen because he made a bad decision to view child porn, which technically is a victimless crime, my father didn't hurt those children. the people who made the video and posted it did. I don't condone him viewing it, I don't understand why he did it and frankly, I'm mad as hell at him however, I know my father would not hurt a child, people are under the notion that if someone looks at child porn, they are automatically perverts and pedophiles. let's look at the system, my father is currently in councelling and abiding by his supervised release, no criminal history or record, awaiting to go to prison for at least five years, when we all know there are people walking the streets on probation for actually molesting and raping children in this community, I grew up in big spring and I could mention a few. the difference is, is the statutes of federal and state, any crime can be committed in the state jurisdiction and receive probation to life. whereas federal, you will serve at least the minimum of the statute. Please don't think I'm condoning what my father did, it does sicken me, however I know my father, My children adore him, his biggest fear was that we wouldn't let him see his grandxhildren anymore, not what the courts would do to him, he's not a bad man and I don't think the crime fits the punishment, who really knew that viewing something for a few minutes, alone, in their own home, would merit at least five years in prison, 250,000 fines, register as an offender, and faces house supervised release after prison for life. That's a pretty harsh punishment for someone who has abided by the law and respected it his entire life. I believe that if there is anyway to publicize the consequences other than hearing about arrests, then maybe the decent people would know and avoid this trouble. I respect what the feds are doing, it is for our children. but I know my father. so thank you Johnny for not humiliating these men as the other postings from other papers have. God bless you, and please forgive any of those who pass judgement, we have one final judge and he doesn't reside in any court room here, that's all we need to worry about!
Posted by Charlene, on November 5, 2008 at 23:30