Todd and Tyler Unauthorized

Dave

I'm not condoning the acts of the 6 men recently arrested for soliciting prostitution on a local Craig's List advertisement, but things seem really fishy to me.

First, was this the first "reverse sting" they've done to nab some public officials, including the Fire Department Union chief and a high school teacher? I've never heard of these types of busts before coming from the "erotic" section of Craig's List.

Why doesn't law enforcement just answer the Craig's List ads, and arrest the women soliciting their services, if they're trying to cut down on prostitution, unless they have other things in mind?

There are a lot of women advertising their services on Craig's List, and there are a lot of repeat advertisers. A person would think it be easy to russle up those ne'er do wells. Wouldn't that be easier, and take less time?

From KMTV.com
Why is the Narcotics Task Force involved with this? Do they think the johns are bringing drugs with them? Create an ad in Craig's List advertising sex for sale, with the hope that some drugs are recovered? Maybe the SWINTF group also handles prostitution control also, I don't know. Maybe they arrested a prostitute for drug posession, and they said they'd give her a lighter sentence for helping out with this sting?

The sting was held at the Country Inn and Suites in Council Bluffs, IA. I'm sure the hotel is happy about that free advertising!

The Craig's List ad details how much the woman is looking for, $150 for a half hour, $250 for a full hour. Isn't that evidence that the woman already has an idea in mind of what she's going to offer her services for? Isn't SHE guilty of the same crime?

Here is the ad, beware, this isn't safe for work, it's in craigslist.com's "erotic" section, not the "casual encounters" section as police and the media claim.

Not just another pretty face - w4m - BEWARE, this link takes you the erotic section on Craig's List

Here are the details...
I'm not exactly sure what defines police entrapment these days, but it seems to me this smells a little bit like it. Maybe they can claim that they aren't forcing the john to use the services of the prostitute?

According to Wikipedia:
Maybe if the guys walked away from the hotel, and the prostitute came back to them and offered a cheaper rate, that could be construed as entrapment?

Does that old line "Are you a cop? You're not a cop are ya?" work in these transactions, or not?

I guess I'd want to know what the "reverse sting" purpose was, to find drugs, to arrest johns, to catch public figures based on a tip, or what?

Just curious

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YetAnotherGreatBandName.com
Questions, comments, concerns?

mike

Calm down Dave. I doubt that their sole target was public figures, cause anybody could have answered the ad,and I'm sure there were "average Joe's" caught, but nobody cares about them.

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"My body's a temple !!" - Tyler

Dave

The whole thing just sounds fishy

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YetAnotherGreatBandName.com
Questions, comments, concerns?

mike

Just watch out next time you pick up a hooker, Dave !!!

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"My body's a temple !!" - Tyler

dracula

It is the 'In thing' now to bust public officials...

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

Bud

That's what I was thinking. Don't get your hookers off of Craig's list.

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dracula

Have Fred hook him up....

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

Mango

Thanks for posting the ad.

In answer to your question about entrapment, I'm not a lawyer but I have significant legal experience. I've read the federal case law on entrapment. It's written so strongly that you would practically have to be hijacked and forced into a crime by the police before their actions would disqualify prosecution.

In this case the fact that the men answered the ad will be prima facie evidence that they ARE inclined to commit the "crime." So the real criminals here will go free, and several lives will be ruined by their actions.

dracula

To use that, wouldn't they have to show that they had this behavior before?...Or are they trying to say they know what a potential criminal is thinking?

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

dracula

On top of that....if using that reasoning....isn't the 'Law' is also saying that if given the opportunity, a person will break the law....the way the ad is worded aren't they are implying something may happen. Giving the person answering the ad false expectations?

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

Mango

Drac,

I can't see that. No one made the men seek out, or answer the ad, or go to the motel, or proposition the undercover officer. All those actions are evidence of their intent, their inclination, to violate the law, especially when "she" posted her rates in the ad. They knew what they were getting into.

Depending on what happened in the motel, however, it could provide enough leeway for an aggressive lawyer to argue that illegal sex wasn't on their minds, just a massage or something innocent.

In that case, previous busts, such as you suggest, would be be useful to argue inclination. But the cops almost certainly have plenty enough to argue the men's inclination toward illegality. I wish it were otherwise, but that's the way it is. But then, I have't seen the videotapes.

dracula

Didn't notice the prices at first, by the Hour or Half Hour..the ad itself is implying she is selling sex....so it's ok for the 'Law' to break the law, so they can enforce the law....

Still, it's a pretty stupid thing to waste tax-payer money on.....

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

dracula

Where are my manners...

Welcome to the site Mango

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

Mango

Thanks for the welcome.

Yeah, what a waste of money and lives.

Unfortunately there is a long legal tradition of cops being allowed to break a number of laws to investigate crimes, although this is one of the worst examples of them nearly creating the crime in order to catch someone breaking it.
I would support stings on Congressmen and other officials involved in things like bribery, but prostitution should be legal.

dracula

Nothing that is given away free should be illegal if paid for

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

Mango

Great point! I've never heard or thought of it that way before. I'll have to think about it.

dracula

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

dracula

And of course, they can't tax it...so it MUST be illegal....

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

Bud

Amen!

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Thender

Hence why prostitution is illegal... The Gov't can't tax it....

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dracula

Nevada figured out how.....

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That's the type of music Frank Sinatra would listen to while doing lines off a hooker's ass..Chad Smith

lilyvon schtupp

and yet
my ads on CL for stuff for sale get pulled within 1/2 an hour
and what I'm selling isn't illegal

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"I'm all for free speech and free rights, just not on December 25th." -- Gretchen Carlson-- fauxnews' fair and balanced hottie.

lilyvon schtupp

the possible recourse for these busted guys is to hold CL
responsible for allowing the ad

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"I'm all for free speech and free rights, just not on December 25th." -- Gretchen Carlson-- fauxnews' fair and balanced hottie.

Bud

yes they did.

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