Conejo | 1:44 a.m. April 1, 2008
For crying out loud. Are they writing a novel or reporting the news. "The sounds of little children playing nearby carried in the breeze"? Might as well start with "It was a dark and stormy night".
STEP UP ACLU | 5:28 a.m. April 1, 2008
Why doesn't the ACLU step in to allow these guys to look at whatever they want. If pornography doesn't affect behavior, why don't they stand up for sex offenders and their rights to look at porn. WE KNOW WHY. Every sex offender, regardless of what their M.O. may be has one thing in common, they are all addicted to pornography and using it puts them into a lustful stupor where reality has no hold. The research is there to back it up. Pornography needs to be quarantined where only those who actively seek it out will find it. It needs to be hosted on dedicated servers so that people who want to root it out of their homes CAN!! Everyone who cares about families should make this their number one priority for the future of this country. No excuses. This secrecy and lack of accountability is crushing families and ruining individuals in the millions.
Re: Conejo | 7:02 a.m. April 1, 2008
I'm with you on that one. I love the bit where missionaries and children were watching. What? Are they the most sterotypical innocents the author could conjure?
Comments continue below
JWK | 7:17 a.m. April 1, 2008
Step up ACLU That's quite a statistic. Do you have a reference for it? I know a lot have said that porn did in fact affect them but I have never read where every sex offender is addicted to porn. In fact, I read no mention that any of the men arrested were registered sex offenders. That would invalidate your broad statement that all sex offenders are addicted to porn.

Also, the ACLU only picks fights they think they can win. Child porn is the most reviled anyway.

I do agree that there are many families that have bee destroyed because of this addiction. When it comes to child porn there should never be a way to get it. Many get started with 'acceptable' porn before turning to children.

Do not misinterpret my post to think I condone what these men have done. I don't. I just am very wary of statements that appear all inclusive.
Vile Crimes | 7:17 a.m. April 1, 2008
Pornography precedes some of the most vile crimes imaginable. One study found 95% of child predators began their perfidy with pornography.

Why don't we just outlaw all pornography? It has no socially redemming value.
What a shame | 7:55 a.m. April 1, 2008
Just a terrible, terrible story and such a shame that people will prey on innocent children.
RE: Re: Conejo | 7:57 a.m. April 1, 2008
Exact same thought crossed my mind - why on earth even mention who was standing nearby? And then the thought occured that, only in Utah, would they use such stereotypical "innocents" for contrast. Where was the nun or the 40-year-old virgin? I'm surprised the author didn't say that the missionaries were playing jump rope with the children as well. There's most certainly an actual news story here (and, don't get me wrong, child porn IS vile), but come on, this is not literature, complete with its innocent protagonists and the evil lurking just across the street...
To Conejo, et al | 8:14 a.m. April 1, 2008
You folks apparently have no sense of irony (or of poetics). The point (which you obtuse people obviously missed) is that this problem exists within range of YOUR innocents as well. And what if the writer didn't "conjure" anything. What if the writer simply reported what he saw? Isn't that journalism?

To suggest that journalism isn't literature ignores the fact that numerous groups give writing prizes (like the Pulitzer, hello) to journalists.

BTW, the "only in Utah" argument is old, tattered, and unimaginative. Let it go already.
To Vile Crime: | 8:19 a.m. April 1, 2008
I agree that pornography has no socially redeeming value and that the purveyors of this should be investigated and prosecuted.
I do however, have a problem with how it is decided what is pornography. I had a conversation with an educator who told me that she could not teach about the artist Rubens, because some of his paintings were nude(such as �Venus at the Mirror�). Does this attitude apply to the �Statue of David� by Michelangelo, etc? Or how about the pictures taken by proud parents in the past of their babies.
Who is deciding what pornography is, and what is artistic? I would hate for someone to lose the joy of art because of someone�s inability to be reasonable.
Re: ACLU | 8:20 a.m. April 1, 2008
The problem with saying that "all predators starting their crimes with porn" is a big one. That's like saying 100% of all abusers drink alcohol. It most states apart from Utah, that would be true, and some would even be intoxicated WHILE abusing. However, correlation does NOT prove causality. It's like saying that 90% of all traffic deaths are DUIs, but that doesn't mean that 90% of all drinkers drive while drunk.

The ALCU has never, and will never defend those who abuse and perpetuate the abuse of children. It's that simple. While porn is growing more vile every year it is not tantamount to child abuse or sexual exploitation of a minor to watch porn.

Please, think before you post and remember - correlation, does not prove a causal link, ever, you need more, which you do not have.
RE: ACLU | 8:40 a.m. April 1, 2008
Most wars are fought over religion. I guess we should quarantine religion and put it where only those who actively seek it out will find it.

If your statistic is correct, that all sex offenders are addicted to porn, that does not mean all porn users are sex offenders.

Just like not all religions start wars.
What's Porn? | 9:28 a.m. April 1, 2008
I agree that on the softer side of things, it becomes a difficult issue to say what is porn and what is art, politics, education, etc.

But, if we just outlawed the hardcore and extreme stuff, that would be a great starting place.
bilbo | 9:23 a.m. April 1, 2008
Re: ACLU:
The ACLU DOES defend and admire those
who abuse, debase and advocate child abuse.
The ACLU will NOT condemn NAMBLA (north america man boy love association), who has a stated goal/policy of the right for members to have sexual relationships with young males as early as 8 to 9 years of age.
NAMBLA has an active role in Gay Pride events, which ACLU REALLY likes.
ACLU defends the rights of NAMBLA to advocate these rights and press for more liberalization of child age-of-consent laws.
In this case, an absence of condemnation is a HUGE endorsement!
BH | 9:26 a.m. April 1, 2008
Actually, ACLU is correct about his quoted statistic. When recently living in Kentucky, the local Indiana news stations reported often of studies that showed a 100% correlation of child sex offenders that had admitted to having been heavily involved in pornography before becoming a pedophile.

It is also correct that mental health professionals classify pornograhpy as an addiction.
CA | 9:49 a.m. April 1, 2008
"Time is wastin'!" Farnsworth shouted to her team. "Perpetrators are out there!"
Sounds like we are living in a police state where you are guilty before proven innocent.
"ICAC agents noted in charging documents, however, that no child pornography images were ever recovered from the computer." "Some suspects commit suicide rather than be faced with the prospect of prison time, agents said."
"It is disturbing. I'd be lying to say it didn't bug me," .
Anonymous | 11:24 a.m. April 1, 2008
What about the millions of people (men and women) who enjoy porn who are not pedophiles or sex offenders?

Just because even if 100% of pedophiles use porn, that doesn't mean porn is the *cause*. Since millions who are not pedophiles also view porn, but are not criminals that would invalidate that argument.

Correlation does not equal causation.

Ryan | 11:52 a.m. April 1, 2008
I hope that everyone found guilty of possessing child pornography be placed in a dark dark cell with a cellmate named Bubba and never see the light of day ever again.
If you've ever been exposed to this garbage you'd agree.

Bill from South Dakota says | 11:52 a.m. April 1, 2008
Police State!!! The best way to avoid being classified as a perp is to stay totally away from this crap in the first place. If you don't go near it via responding to unknown emailers and chat rooms you will not be guilty! These creeps are all around us!
Re: BH + Bilbo | 12:06 p.m. April 1, 2008
The internet is an addiction, computer games are an addiction, alcohol is an addiction, porn is an addiction. Does that mean that all addicts do harmful things to anyone but themselves? No it doesn't, in fact I'm sure most porn addicts never even DREAM of touching or looking at child porn.

Bilbo: The ACLU has also defended Nazi hate groups before, while I'm not happy that they'd support NAMBLA I believe it's on a free speech standpoint, not on a child abuse front. Sadly, perverted groups like NAMBLA do have the right to talk amongst themselves about illegal acts, just anything beyond that means prison time. If the ACLU has done anything beyond defend their disgusting talk I think they'd be short lived as an institution. If they admire child abusers so much, where are they in this case? Not here, because they don't defend abuse, only free speech.
Mrs. | 12:16 p.m. April 1, 2008
To Conejo, etc.:

They were just setting the scene. Give 'em a break. We couldn't be there to see it, so they were just trying to tell us how it felt. I think it was well done.
JBH | 12:34 p.m. April 1, 2008
Most wars are not fought over religion. How this keeps getting repeated as if it's common knowledge is beyond me.
Klimber510 | 12:38 p.m. April 1, 2008
Utah is considered "nirvana" to a predator? Because there are so many children? Because parents are blissfully naive about the evil that is out there?

Predator Logic: "I can't help it, I was born this way."

Apologist: "The suicide rate is appalling among child predators awaiting prosecution. We need to quit persecuting these people and help them accept themselves for who they are."

Judith Levine: "If the child is willing, I don't see the problem here."

Support Group at the intersection of 9th and 9th at 9.
Anonymous | 12:40 p.m. April 1, 2008
The most recent research shows that pornography does physically alter the brain. Now that there is substantial evidence in can be used to fight pornography in the court system.

I pity any individual that views porn and honestly believes they are not on the path to becoming a deranged sexual predator. Get help before you destroy your life, your family and our society.
Anonymous | 2:39 p.m. April 1, 2008
Want to cite that research, "anonymous?"
bhparkman | 3:03 p.m. April 1, 2008
The reason why porn exists in the US is the billions of dollars they generate; and the politicians wanting a substancial cut of that money. If the Church back in the day had billions of dollars of income, then I'm sure the Fed and States would've allowed plural marriage to continue for a large "contribution".

The sooner porn of any kind is no longer profitable for both producers and polticians, then it will become outlawed.
Me | 4:01 p.m. April 1, 2008
Porn isnt going anywhere and it never will. Just like drugs and booze. They are the bad things in life. Which is why there worth so much
wow... | 4:17 p.m. April 1, 2008
The argument that porn has a drug like effect on the brain is simply this.

sexual behavior stimulates the brain.

so do drugs.

therefore porn must be like a drug - despite it being a natural trigger not caused by foreign chemicals.

It's a very, very weak argument based only on the fact that sexual behavior can be addictive, and that addictive behavior can change the brain.

For the LAST time - millions of people watch porn every day, how many of them are "deranged sexual predators"? Not many.
Anonymous | 4:14 p.m. April 1, 2008
I know one of those taken in, and I can only hope that my friend gets the help that he needs so desperately.
And as for those who like to scream "Exploitation and disease" at any type of pornography, please corrolate your accusations with any type of non biased research. You won't find any because it's just not there.
Way to Go Davis County | 4:31 p.m. April 1, 2008
I'm so grateful that our Davis county prosecutor is going after those junior high students for creating all that porn. Without vigilant people like him, who knows what this world would come to.

NOT!
Re: Way to Go Davis County | 4:55 p.m. April 1, 2008
You need to understand, in that case, the junior high kids were, in some cases, taking nude photos of others without permission and using it to blackmail them. If that happened to you, or to one of your kids if you have kids, I doubt you would post the comment you posted.

Kids taking nude photos of my kid and threatening to circulate it and/or blackmailing them!!! Darn right I would expect the prosecutor to prosecute!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mom | 5:00 p.m. April 1, 2008
My son was a student in his class and i agree with the whole put them in a cell with "bubba" and throw away the key. I don't care how sick in the head they are. They shouldn't be teacher/role models. It is sick and wrong.
Facts | 5:24 p.m. April 1, 2008
It's been found that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the people.

Porn is an addiction. It can be overcome, but it will come back.
To Porn Addicts | 6:57 p.m. April 1, 2008
Porn addicts always want people to "cite their sources" when comments are made that point out the OBVIOUS dangers of porn. They do this because although the research is still somewhat scarce etc. they hope that no one will cite their sources and they feel validated when no one does.

So, all of you that say "Cite your research", I'm accusing you of being porn addicted probable child molesting scum. Or soon you probably will be.

Porn is responsible for damaging families. It is VERY addictive. It is responsible for more than 1/2 of the problems many marriages experience. I got that strait from a mental health couselor who was discussing the subject and has years of extensive experience.
jody | 7:04 p.m. April 1, 2008
sick and wrong....leave the kids alone!!!
To: To Porn Addicts | 7:35 p.m. April 1, 2008
And why is it that those who want to cry wolf at the imaginary dangers of porn always fluster when asked to back up their statements with anything other than "Cuz it's wrong, goldarnit!"
Faux scientific claims are not basis for fact, despite how many people want them to be so.
What | 7:48 p.m. April 1, 2008
What if someone says you should "site your research" or perhaps "sight your research?"
kit | 8:17 p.m. April 1, 2008
in regards to most wars being fought over religion umm.. if I remember correctly haven't many dictators been Athiest and the wars have been fought by them trying to supress religion. (ie Hitler)
Why is that card being played in this article. i am so sick of every single thing coming down to people whining about religion. Regardless of religion this article is talking about the safety of all children. Regardless of religioin and I would hope everyone would side with trying to put a stop to this problem.
RE: To Porn Addicts | 9:10 p.m. April 1, 2008
That is a terrible assumption to make regarding someone's inquiry about the "empirical evidence". I am a graduate student in neuroscience and largely understand the neural pathways and processes involved with addiction/reward behavior.

You better believe however, that I would want to know where people are eliciting numbers that in a logical, research methods perspective, could never be valid. No study could possibly infer, with construct validity that such a relationship exists- retrospective correlation does not imply causation.

You have an assumptive unilateral perspective, one that is quite annoying.
porn made me do it !!! | 10:36 p.m. April 1, 2008
porn, drugs, alcohol, guns, icy roads, etc. are all responsible my problems. THEY are BAD. THEY should be ILLEGAL. this is because i have unfortunately lost my FREE WILL and PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; if i ever really had them. so then, when i MAKE A DECISION to view porn, take drugs or alcohol, buy a gun, drive beyond what the conditions allow i DO NOT accept FULL responsibility for my actions and mustn't be HELD ACCOUNTABLE as such by the society in which i live. i should look elsewhere to explain the outcome. and besides, people like me. oh, and i also have religion...
Poor kids | 11:19 p.m. April 1, 2008
I have seen things online that make me want to throw up.

It boggles my mind how people can rationalize the actions. I understand that people have tendencies to lust and have desires. But a child is so innocent that for someone to take advantage of them is pathetic.
The world of the damned... | 11:33 p.m. April 1, 2008
child abusers and porn addicts live in the world of the damned. Read the posts..one can tell how the conciences of some are seared with a hot iron. Excusing their porn as they go there merry way. The ax will fall sooner or later to stike them down. I have heard, there is no scorn heaped upon imprisoned child mollesters like that which is heaped on those particular inmates.
To: The World of the Damned | 12:05 a.m. April 2, 2008
Thank you for that unbiased and informed opinion.
As for your garbled final statement: Sex offenders whose crimes involved minors are kept segregated from general populace out of necessity, or they are generally murdered by the other inmates.
Not scorn or "rightous fury" or whatever else you have in mind. They are beaten, stabbed, and otherwise seen with violence until they are dead.
While I may wish many of these individuals to pay for their crimes of violating innocent children in such a way, it's not my place to do so.
And I don't excuse porn, because I don't need to.
I like it, I watch it, I read it, and for some odd reason I have never done or harbored thoughts to do these terrible things.
Perhaps instead of looking for flaws in everyone that disagrees with you, you might want to think about educating yourself with something more than "You disagree with me, so you're gonna BURN!"
Bonnie | 12:50 a.m. April 2, 2008
A school teacher??? I am a school teacher. It makes me sick that somebody who was given the confidence of the district and the community would then harm a child.

I would like to see that guy put in jail for a long time.

It makes me sick when people hurt kids. I spent my life taking care of other people's children, so when I see stories like this I just get filled with rage against these perpetrators and a super duper protective feeling about my students.

What can we do to stop the people that buy the child porn?
GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE | 9:27 a.m. April 2, 2008
To "The World of the Damned"
The previous response to your fantatical, quasi-religious drivel is enough. That blogger pointed out your intellectual and, ironically, moral, limitations. However, I feel compelled to also point out that you, holier-than-thou crusader of all that is ignorant, live in the same world as these "damned" people. You are deceiving yourself if you think you dont, or that you will end up any differently from them when you die. Being of the same world, and having the same fate, are you damned too? Suggestion: Instead of condemning people all the time, turn that energy toward actually doing someone some good.
The Rest of the Story | 3:15 p.m. April 2, 2008
It is ashame that in America the rule is now "guilty until proven innocent". I have seen too much judgment by people who do not know all the facts, only those which the paper chooses to write, to sell their story. I have seen people's lives ruined because of untruths, half truths, or just revenge with an outright lie. Don't be too hasty to judge. There have been too many stories in the news lately that show just how narrow the law is in interpreting what is considered a "sexual offense". Did you know that peeing in public, that includes the woods, is a sexual offense? Get all your facts. Learn the full story, before you judge others, lest you also are judged unfairly.
Another sex offender confesses | 10:00 p.m. April 2, 2008
A warning to the person that posted the comment, "I have seen things online that make me want to throw up." Watch out! The police are probably on their way right now to confiscate your computer and put you in prison with "Bubba!" That's all it takes. The images, those of which you wish you'd never seen, may be cached on your computer: enough evidence that it makes a prosecutor salivate at the thought of putting you behind bars with a 3rd degree felony conviction "attempting to distribute..." If you don't think they do this, investigate a little further, and you'll see the distorted, biased methods they use to convict some of these folks for the things they "have seen...online that make [them] want to throw up."
Evidence | 10:41 p.m. April 9, 2008
In response to the teacher, it sounds more like an invasion of privacy rather than an on going thing. No pics were found and what was the babysitter doing going through his files. No kid was touched and all of a sudden, without a trial to be proven in court, he is automatically guilty. You have to love a paper that posts names of people that are innocent and could possibly ruin there life and we don't even know if they are innocent or guilty. Let the courts decide before you send the man to "Bubba".
Me | 11:00 a.m. April 11, 2008
I just have to say that it is entirely possible that some of these people are innocent. Roommates share computers. I have had people come to my house and use my computer to check their emails only to find them purusing porn sites. The last time it took me about 6 months to get the unsolicited emails to stop.
Concerned | 4:16 a.m. May 26, 2009
Having worked in law enforcement in the past and now seeing the other side of the badge i am very concerned about the place our judicial system is going. When I was an officer, it was innocent until proven guilty. Our job as officers was not to "Prove" anything...our job was to present our report and evidence and the judge and jury were to do the "judging".
Now the real truth comes out. People have their lives,reputation and their name destroyed before one day in court.
Officers now are able to badger people into false confessions-look at the news if you think I am wrong.
Officers are making false statements in order to get convictions-and who would believe someone who is accused of possessing child porn-even it was never viewed or was inthe
"trash" as an accidental download or worse yet both.
If they lie about one person, they will lie about another and next time it may be out someone that you care about or even you. Sounds far fetched-not really.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

Image

Lt. Jessica Farnsworth, the field commander for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and two other agents escort David Simpson, who is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor for allegedly trading images of child porn.

previousnext

Latest comments

Healthcare Change values Families Outrageous Healthcare bills are the #1...

Just remember where your little buddy is, who is sitting in JAIL, ask him how...

Great man, great honor. BYU and Utah both have great coahces now...makes up...

Boys basketball rankings

Rich won't be playing for a state title! They were picked to be in there...

Re: Jim And if the rainforests are wiped out, what becomes of this oxygen...

Frank, we aren't even in the same league as the pros in the rest of the...

Rick was a great role model to me. I had some of the funnest times with him....

@Wow Charles: Of course every child and parent is different. How does that...

I watched him play as kid. I recall him being described as the best one on...

@2:00pm -- thank you for confirming that people like you believe Obama is the...

Advertisements