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‘To Catch a Predator’ goes to Kentucky

Posted: Thursday, December 27, 2007 5:22 PM by Dateline Editor
Filed Under: , , , ,

By Chris Hansen, Dateline Correspondent

It’s our twelfth “To Catch A Predator” investigation and this time we’re set up in a 6,000- square foot home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It’s a town of about 50,000 people an hour north of Nashville, Tennessee.

Each one of these investigations has its own rhythm and Kentucky is no different. Within hours I am struck by the fact that fewer men are showing up at our hidden camera house than in past investigations.

Looking back I think this at least partially because the Kentucky Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation, along with local law enforcement, have been actively pursuing online predators in the past year.

Before Dateline’s investigation in Bowling Green, the Attorney General’s office with the help of the online watchdog group Perverted Justice had conducted two previous sting operations without us, making 20 arrests.

One of them was a 59-year old criminal justice instructor at an Ohio college who used to be an elementary school teacher. He had been chatting online about having sex with a decoy posing as a13-year-old girl before showing up to meet her at the undercover house.

Even after this earlier high-profile case, though, we still saw men in our investigation eager to meet a young teen home alone for sex. As you will see, seven men show up over three and a half days and all seven are arrested after I talk to them and they leave the house.

You’ll see in Kentucky that we employ the same online decoy, Casey, who we used in New Jersey. She is just as effective in this latest investigation as she was before talking to the men in person.

You’ll see the grooming process in real time.

Also in Kentucky we see a range of men show up, from a factory worker to a man who says he’s a police detective and carries a gun.

Watch the heart-pounding moments when, as he leaves our hidden camera house, he refuses to follow orders from the arresting officers.

'To Catch a Predator' Kentucky airs Friday, Dec. 28.

Click here for more about the series.

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Comments

One cannot say enough about the job Chris Hansen does. He is my nomination for person of the year. Keep up the great work Chris.
I was shocked to see them in Bowling Green! Every time I would watch a "To Catch A Predator" show I would always say...why don't they do one here in Bowling Green! Low and Behold...they did! I'm glad that this show is going to different places trying to put these predator's behind bars!

I was shocked with that one fellow who was getting ready to approach the young lady before Chris came into the room...I was just thinking to myself...what if that was not a setup...what would have done to her? That is a really scary thought!

You guys are doing a great job! I want to be a part of your team!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a few questions regarding this show.

I undertand that a few of those people might be dangerous predator but don't get me wrong those people should pay for their improper behavior.

Nonetheless, I am just a little worried about the decoy.

I just don't get it when the person posing as a little girl answer positively to explicit sexual offers she gets from those predator, doesn't it send a wrong message to little girls of that age? That you can answer positively to sexual request from old people since the State and the cops are there to protect you?

I understand that this is a decoy but in real life 100% of prudent little girls should answer a clear NO to ALL sexual request, end the conversation right there and report all details to authorities RIGHT THERE.

In real life, a girl that answer positively to pervert sexual proposition from men might not loose its virginity to some 40 years old sexual pervert out there but will definitely loose it to some 15,16 or 17 years old kid who will get away with it just because he is a minor if she hasn't learn to just say NO, be firm about it, not wishy washy like the decoy and learn to defend herself.

Besides this interrogation, you guys are doing a fine job. Nonetheless, to me when a girl in age of answering yes or no and is well aware of consequences or at least should know better if she answers yes should have some part of responsibility in that. Don't get me wrong, I am not defending those people who should pay.

I am just stating that even though she might not have the legal age for signing up a contract, her parents are and should also be aware of what she is doing. In the real life, should a parent who learn that her daughter acted so unresponsibily over the net should be happy about it? I am not telling you about the growing number of parents that think that the net just like TV is some kind of babysitter but about the parents that try to raise responsible and well aware kids out of this world and even a 6 years old can understand that.

Best regards,

Yan Provencher  

James Fowler:::: very very very creepy, when I saw your video online on datline nbc I could not believe what I saw!!!! If it hadnt been a setup to catch a predator like him I really truly believe he would have hurt that girl!! For REAL, he didnt even remember an ex lover that lived with him for 7 months!!! I must say when I saw the Video I put my hands to my chest and took a very fast intake of breath and tried to shout to her to RUN!!!! He really scared the hell out of me and I hope they put him away forever!!!! This is really a true scope of what you were trying to accomplish all along. NOW people can really see what may happen when meeting people on the Internet and for that I thank you Chris Hansen and Dateline personnel. That was really too scary for me. Keep up the good work. Susieq
Well I, for one, am glad that only 7 men showed up at the house this time.  Looks like, in Kentucky at least, the crackdown on predators is working.  Fewer and fewer men are taking the risk of meeting up with underage kids.

Keep up the good work, Chris, Dateline and Law Enforcement!
Thank god someone started doing this. To many pedophiles out there and you should start looking into some of the fetish chats. I seem to find many of them in those rooms. I can't stand those type of folks. Keep catching them and showing up. Your show makes a great drinking game.
Hello Chris: You series is very good, and lets america know that child molesters don't always look like child molesters. They could be your next door neighbor. The only problem I and many other police officers have is the police procedures used. There is no reason for those officers to tackle someone to the ground after they have their hands up and giving up. This shows the american people that police want to rough you up even when you giving up. This is no longer the image Professional police officers of the future want to convey. Those tactics are police abuse. Those officers are too aggressive. That's police abuse. If they are that afraid, of a person giving up. I just wonder what they would do in a real situation. I speak for all the 20 or more year veterans not the young aggressive ones who make this profession bad.
The men that came forward to meet the decoy in this show truly deserve the punishment that will imposed on them.  Like everyone else it is fair to say that most rational individuals abhore the preditors that unfortunately roam the internet but in all fairness I am bothered that I don't see any young girls and their parents being booked for solicitation either.  MSNBC doesn't have a problem showing news footage of Britney Spears climbing out of a car without underware or any of her contemporaries acting out in similar disgusting ways on TV.  If your only content to report on half the problem then don't report on any of it.  The young ladies that put themselves in these positions might be young but they are savey enough in the ways of sex and solicitation to get men to respond.  There should be a sting operation to entrap the young internet cruisers and they AND their parents should be held equally accountable on camera to explain their acitons.  The sting operations that are going on around the country are nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to a very serious problem but also to extremely poor and irresponsible parenting. I have worked with law enforcement on several cases and what you don't show are the pictures that the girls are sending out to these men. Like many of the "ligitmate" stories or ads that you run, acceptable magazines on the news stands or any of the multitude of sources that these girls educate themselves with to taunt their sexuality, where is your coverage of that half of this story?  Thge Media has become content to chase sensationalism and although Chris Hansen appears to be a competent reporter I think your just pandering to the dollars and ratings.
i would like to see you broaden your investigation to show predators of both genders and age groups such as teens to adults and cross cultural. thank you!
I saw this episode and have seen many of the others. I have done work on sexual violence for many, many years and I believe the programs you are producing, with Perverted Justice, constitute the most effective use of mainstream media that I've ever seen. You are using media for social good, and I am thrilled that you and your network continue to do this work.
Praise God for this show!!!!!  I'm a mother as well as a child care provider and I love what you are doing.  Please be sure to travel all around.  You can even use my place as a decoy if you'd like (lol).  Thank you so very much for caring.    
Hey Chris, for what ever reason you decided to do this show "Thank God", that you did. There are so many men and women out there whom think that this is cool, and its hard to know that someone is like that.  I have 3 kids, and I make them watch your show with me, so that can see that people are like that.  Keep up the good work!!!!
Why doesn't Dateline ever hire ugly girls as decoys?
The police officers on these programs keep telling us that they don't have the budgets to effect these investigations without the help of Dateline. We clearly have our priorities wrong! Each year we throw 100’s of Millions down the toilet on our useless drug prohibition. We should end prohibition and spend our resources protecting our children. Today's prohibition has been just as successful as prohibition was in the 1920's. http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
I am so glad this show is being aired. I wish there could be more people out there stopping all of those preditors. I am a mother of a boy 15 and a little girl 7. It scares me to think of all the things that can happen. I went online in chat rooms for several years and met some pretty strange people I also met some nice one but you never know. That is why I m glad they now have a show that shows the preditors so maybe it will save a child. Thanks
I watch your show to catch a predator all the time. It is excellent.The one that really made me sick was where the guy brought his small boy with him.My ex-husband is a sex offender and a predator. You should come to Knoxville, tn, there are many many predators here.
I watch your show to catch a predator all the time. It is excellent.The one that really made me sick was where the guy brought his small boy with him.My ex-husband is a sex offender and a predator. You should come to Knoxville, tn, there are many many predators here.
Dear Mr Handson & Dateline
I have watched you show. I belive you have done a great job and protected alot of young children from harm. Thank You ! But, if you really belive that to catch a Predator Has made a Dent in the world of Child predators , think again? I belive they all start on the path of their sickness the same way. My family has delt with these issues with-in the family and you if you dive into these sick peoples mind you might find a common thread. I'm sure of it! Please keep up the good work But, look @ the profiles VERY CLOSE. In my dreams and wishes you can stop them before they get started.
With Tears Rabecca
 
Absolutly fantastic what you are doing! I wish you would come to central Oregon and do the same thing
CHRIS HANSON IS THE BEST. THE SHOW IS ABOUT REALLY BAD PEOPLE DOING REALLY AWFUL THINGS AND IT IS SUCH A GOOD THING THAT MSNBC IS DOING. ITS SAD THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE HAVING TO DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT MR. HANSON IS GREAT ON HIS FEET AND WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HE HAS. I LIKE HOW HE IS ALLOWED TO SAY WHAT HE FEELS TO THESE PEOPLE AS WE SIT AT HOME WITH OUR MOUTH'S DROPPED. (PERSON SAYS "I KNOW U HAVE HEARD THIS 20 MILLION TIMES", THEN CHRIS SAYS "20 MILLION ANS 1) I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF MY FRIENDS CHILDREN ARE MORE SECURE BECAUSE OF WHAT MSNBC IS DOING. YOU GO MSNBC!!!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING
Why is it not a crime when these fools send their nude photos to miners? When you take their computer why not track who they sent photos to and if it's a minor charge them with another crime.
Chris and crew, I am a mother of a 16yrs old boy, I tell you if anyone ever touched my son, I would have to hurt them bad!!, I thank you for your show it is unfortunately necessary in these times. You do it so well!! When I was a little girl I remember a man who stood inside his mobile home front door naked, scared me to death, told my parents, don't know to this day what happened to him. and don't care. these people men and women are sick and they need to all be put away, how dare they hurt our beautiful children? please continue your works, get um all!!
Can someone tell me how to find the schedule for to Catch a Predator.
Woohoo!  Go Kentucky.  Good to know my state has been doing this on its own to the point the word is getting out.
Chris:  I was very impressed about your segment on catching child preditors.  I have two daughters and the internet has always been a fear of mine; now they are grown and hopefully out of the woods.  I'm always hearing in church to stand up for something I believe in, try to make a difference.  I would love to volunteer to get on my computer, use a ficticious email or myspace, and help lure preditors.  It angers me so much that I would do this on my own time.  I want to do it right, though, because I don't want to get in trouble.  Is there any way, in working with you or police, that I can be of help?  I am a registered nurse, have a couple of degrees and have no criminal record.  I am sincere when I say I want to get involved.  Please let me know if there's any way I can be of help to you.  Please keep this private.  Thank you again!!!
I think this show is great I wish there was one in every city every week!  The only thing I don;t like is that you don't have any stories of real underage girls who "To catch a Predator" didn't catch.  I hear alot of people at work etc complain that "this never happens in real life...".  I know that it does and i wish you would show that in your stories... the ones you didn't catch.

Thanks!  this show rocks.
To C.H.,

        Just when I started watchin' TCAP, I became your biggest fan & I still watch your shows all the time, even the ones you did before. You're America's #1 hero and I love the fact that you've saved a lot of young innocent lives from these sickos you continue to bust. What's really stupid about these idiots you've busted is when you confront them, they tell you they've seen your Dateline TCAP shows & show up the the sting house anyways. Every single show I've watched, you really crack me up, big time. This is me: ROTFLMAO. I just can't get enough if you know what I mean. Please, do me a big favor-- don't stop what you're doing. Keep up the good work & one more thing: KICK SOME PREDATOR ASS!!!
Just Reading some responses I wonder how can you not appreciate what this show is doing.  As far as doing it in rich neighborhoods in the suburbs.  I think they explained that they do that because lets face it we know in inner cities people wouldn't be shocked but show a rich neighborhood where people think money makes them safe then everyone becomes aware and take precautions.  Mean think about it if you are in the inner city you make sure your doors are locked on your car and purse and whatever is in the trunk.  a nice neighborhood like the ones they show on to catch a predator gives a false sense of security and you don't do the same thing do you?

To the comment of why don't they catch men looking for boys but they catch men looking for girls.  They have caught a few guys looking for boys like the rabbi, the guy at mcdonalds.  The DC show had a few but still less than a 1/3 of them were gay.  Its just that there are more men looking for girls than boys.  Out of what 30-40 men only one or two are gay in most of the investigations.  Plus they are talking to victims they are posing as kids waiting for men to contact them.  So actually they just prevent those guys from getting another child.

Its not giving boys a false sense of security they show guys going for boys it just you have a better chance of catching a guy looking for a girl than a boy.  Its like why they don't catch women pedophiles.  Women who are pedophiles typically go for kids they know and have a relationship (like the teacher with student scandals....almost always female teacher with male student) That was also explained  because people asked why is it only men.
wow i love this show! it really is great and it shows everyone that predators are out there but i think you should try doing this show in a smalll town somewhere maybe in maryland because i go in chats all the time and people try to meet me and i feel if you do the show in all sorts of locations then people will know that they are most likely gona get caught..so they shouldn't even bother trying..im jut throwing that out there...ya know
You know whats scary is the times they get away with it! These idiots need to go to jail for a long time. Imean you can meet all kinds of freaks on the net you don't have to go after kids.I hope they continue this program and catch them all. And some of the people commenting on this blog act like they are peeved that NBC is doing this, WHY are they perves too? Afraid they'll get caught? I wonder. Keep up the good work I think it's great.
Shoot!  I missed the episode!  Seems a long time since this show has been on the air {other than the re-caps and re-runs} I pretty much gave up in watching what a fine job CH does out there. Is Chris back on weekly?



please come to Buffalo Ny Chris, we watch you up here and would love for you to catch some of these predators up here because THERE ARE MANY!!!!! love the show, love what you do, keep up the good work
Chris should win a award for this show. This is what reality show is all about. Even if the pervs in the world are not catching the clue that anytime they can be caught so be it. I'll keep watching cause this stuff is entertaining to me.
Mr. Hansen, I was watching your show on tv the other night about how to catch a preditor and was amazed at what I saw and also very concerned. You see I truly believe along with others that my ex-husband is on the path of being a preditor yet the court systems simply wants to brush is own confessions under the rug.  He is and was always obsessed with pornography (his type of porn made playboy and hussler look like mother goose)  He has admitted to having intercourse with a 15yr old babysitter when he was 25yrs old and frequents prostitutes.  I was able to receive an order of protection against him for me and my two daughters both of which want nothing to do with him yet the courts still award him supervised visitations which allow him to be alone with them because the supervisor doesn't monitor him during the visits.  Since then my 6yr old daughter has come forward with some situations that happened with her father while he was watching her.  Again CPS and the police have pressed charges against him however for what he has done his punishment is simply a slap on the wrist and nothing more.  I saw the charges that these men were facing on your show and I feel that they only went with the intent but yet my Ex has fulfield the whole act and has admitted to it and yet there is nothing that is being done.  How is it that our court systems fail so many children?  Yet when something does happen the courts look at others to blame for not protecting the children.  I admire your show because you are truly looking out for kids against preditors before something happens.  I am in fear for some little girl who may come across my ex's path and wonder if something terrible will happen and by then it would be too late because the damage would already have been done.  You have been faced with these type of people before.  I ask you do you feel that my Ex is on the brink of being a full fledge preditor or petifile? If so how can I get the courts to listen before someone gets hurts? He is smart and knows just how to act and knows just what to say to the police,CPS and the judges. He had violated the order of protection on a number of occassions and nothing is done for it.  I tuly believe that the order of protection for me and my daughters is not worth the paper it is written on.  And I fear that another child will be harmed because of him.  I don't even know that you will even obtain this to read but hopefully someone who does will be able to help me and my daughters get the justice we are looking for and prevent another child from falling into his trap of deception.
I'm haunted knowing that my x-girlfriend, may have been stalked, perhaps it no accident her assailant volunteered to do repair work to the churches pipe organ. Next time, I suggest you use a church, the bait, a Church organist with church access, brillient, she should be ignored by "boys" her own age and couldn't possibly meet at home. If legally possible, I suggest you use a real 16 year old posing as a 16 year old. I have such a church in mind, the setting of my college girlfriends unreported assault, she was 16, he an engineer, married man making repairs to the churches pipe organ. It should be noted that unlike many states, the age of consent is 17 in NY.
I'd like nothing better than to lock your preditors away for the rest of their lives, but if I were a preditor, I'd swear up hill and down I thought the 13 year old was older, claiming I thought she was role playing, since they are, I think you'd have a hard time obtaining a conviction.
Dear Chris Hansen,
You are truly one of the most BRILLIANT jounalists on the airwaves today!
The subjects you cover, the risks you take in not only exposing sicko's and scams etc., but then executing the storyline format for the public in sheer CLASS A+ style will NEVER be unappreciated !!!!
Never EVER stop the CHRIS HANSEN style of GENIOUS JOURNALISM!!!!
YOU SIR ARE TOP KNOTCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's frightening how many people still support this lame excuse for a show.  Does the term 'civil rights' mean anything to any of you?  I agree that child predators are bad people.  But so are murderers, rapists, thieves, drunk drivers, and a bunch of other criminals.  The only difference is that those that I mentioned are considered innocent until proven guilty.  Anyone caught on this so called "news" show is grilled by smug-ass Chris Hansen to confess to the so called crime they allegedly committed before the police even arrest them!  Doesn't anyone else see the problems with this setup?  Don't get me wrong, these are not good people that are being caught in these stings.  But there are even worse people out there who don't get nearly as much media attention!  This is the twelfth investigation of this kind.  The twelfth!  This stopped being news at about investigation one.  Wasn't it bad enough that a man shot himself in the head in order to keep from being humiliated on your show?  How many more people have to kill themselves or someone else before you people WAKE UP?  You're all saying how 'great' these investigations are and how you wish they would make one every week.  Well, when one of your relatives are caught and all of their constitutional rights are taken away, let's see how you all feel about pseudo-news programs taking the place of law enforcement.  Everyone who is involved in making this program and everyone who supports it should be ashamed of themselves.
Your show is excellent, i have 2 daughters who use the internet frequently and they love to watch the show and have become very aware of certain situations. A couple yrs back before your show even aired , a friend and i went into chat rooms pretending to b teen girls and we had so many im's popping up we couldnt keep up, all men looking to be with young girls and the chat was explicit. I am in Allentown, Pa and would love a segmant done close to this area.
  Kentucky officials spoke louder and clearer, than, any, of the officials, anywhere else, regarding the purpose of the show. As strong as their message was, we can, only, hope, people are, finally, getting the message and our children can be safer. Although the problem won't, completely, go away, hopefully Dateline won't be as busy as they were, two years ago, when, so many, people showed up at the target homes, thinking, they would have a private encounter with a minor.
  I've, previously, posted comments, what, else, could happen to the potential predators when they show up and I hope Dateline uses some of my examples in future brodcasts.
  Some people posted comments about Dateline ruining people's lives. Because there is so much "hate crime" against predators and offenders, Dateline may, actually, be saving lives, including those of the potential predators, themselves.
  In the New Jersey episode, where, the Air Force mechanic hurried inside, with camera, and insisted, to somebody, he thought, was thirteen, that they go, right, upstairs and do what he came there to do because he doesn't have, a lot, of time. I can, only, imagine, what would be happening, had, that one, been real.
  His planning was poor, enough, without attempting to photograph a, naked, thirteen year old girl on the same film he has photos of his wife and daughter.
  What would a real thirteen year old girl think with a thirty three year old Air Force man approaching her like that, especially, in the privacy of her, own, home with nobody, else, there? She would be, absolutely, helpless, especially if she didn't have the same, immediate, interest, in sex, as he did.
 A, good, reason Dateline should keep the new episodes rolling. The, progressively, updating examples, like this one, will, never, stop shocking the members of the Dateline crew or the viewing public, no matter, how long, they keep it on the air or how many years the show has been going on, so far.
  I'm glad there wasn't, really, a minor, alone, with this example. Like, I said, Dateline has saved, many, lives. There's no telling, what the outcome, would've been, had, that one, been real.
Dear Dateline and Chris Hansen;

Desperate Dad and Stepmom in MO needing some guidance!
Me and my husband watch every episode of "To catch a predator"  Main reason being my two step sons (my husbands sons) are put in the situation of their mother meets alot of men and has them stay with her off the internet.  She does not know these men only what she has been told by them and she introduces the boys to them alot and they are left in their supervision alot while they are here.  The Bowling Green, Kentucky really caught our eye because of Michal Patterson looks and talks just like the gentleman whom stayed for a week with them last fall.  My family saw him at the ball field when she brought him to one of my stepsons games, and later that evening the Heart Association was having a dinner on our riverboat and my sister, my mother, my grandmother and my aunt all got to see him.  Luckly when this aired the boys were at our house and saw this guy also.  The oldest one being 11 started crying and stated he did not want to go home.  The youngest stood there saying "oh, my gosh it is Jimmy."  Both boys pictures, ages, names and town are listed on several of her web pages.  Like My Space, which scares us because two young boys were abducted only about 2 hours from here off the web page. It made the news.  The two from Kirkwood,MO.  Is there any way you can help us?  The last time we went to court this was brought up about her web page's and she stated someone stole her identity and pictures.  Obviously the judge did't buy that because he told her that he did not want to hear of the boy's picture's on there again.   But they are there.  We have contacted DFS and law enforcement but in MO as long as they are not nudity than there is not much that can be done. We want our story heard we are wanting to get them out of this type of enviroment.  Any suggestions? We do not have the internet in our home I have to come to my parents to even use the internet.
Regarding the MySpace web site, parents claim they cannot monitor their children 24hrs a day. However, a parent can establish their own MySpace web site and require their child to invite them in. This way a parent can periodically moniter what their child has posted and what others may be saying about their child.
Also, not to be defending the sexual predator, because I feel they are scums to prey on the young and INSECURE, but why isn't it possible to setup a reversal sting to catch the child? Monitor the situation, then report this to the child's parent to help put some ownership back into "parenting."
dear mr.hansen: from a father of two young children,just wanna say THANK YOU for caring and getting those dirtbags off our streets
Sure glad to see that you are running more new "To Catch a Preditor" stories. I have watched the reruns on MSNBC and it makes me shudder to think just how many thosand preditors are out there. I do think that some cities/states have not been as tough senticing these men when they are caught.
My child is going to be born next month how can I find out if there are any sex predators where I live.
For all those people out there saying that your show is 'entrapment' and those innocent men are tricked into doing something wrong...nonsense. I used to go into chat rooms, and being a 16 year old girl at the time, I only had to enter a chat room, and 5 or more conversations would pop up on my screen with men asking for sex, or trying to send me pictures. Keep up the good work, and thanks!
Please bring this to the United Kingdom, the laws and punishments are no way near as harsh as USA they should lock them up and throw away the key.  you should do a story on how lax the prisons are compared to USA.

I watched a programme on US prisons when i was in New York and it shocked me how much more strict they are than UK. They get away with so much more over here! Bring your prisons over here!
  I'm, still, amazed how some people can talk bad about "To Catch a Predator". It's not Dateline ruining these people's lives, it's the predators, themselves.
  When it comes to the "colatteral damage", only the predator can be blamed for that.
  Those of us, who are normal, wouldn't be comfortable, being invited into a home by a minor alone, nevermind, walking, right, in, as if we live there.
  It's, real, simple. If you don't want your name and your story aired on nationwide TV, arrested, jail or prison, classified as a sex offender and/or lose, all, parental control, of your children, watch who you talk to, online, and don't, even, think of meeting any minors, you don't know. Think about what it would be like, for you, if your child had an adult come over with you not home.
  When Dateline, first, started the investigations they wondered if anybody would show up, at all, maybe, three or four, not eighteen or nineteen.
  On top of that it's not, just, the number of the men who showed up, but, who they were.
  There seems to be a lot of misconception, out there, about who some of the predators can be. Before "To Catch a Predator" got started, we all had the misconception, predators were nobodys, real losers, who live to have sex with minors, as if they wore a mask and a cape, like, you would see, in cartoons. that's not what Dateline found.
  If you seen previous episodes you would know most of these people are in some serious positions of trust.
  They could be your neighbor, your child's teacher, a co-worker, whatever.
  Who has Dateline met? A news reporter, firefighter, rabbi, doctors, teachers, an actor, even, cops.
  What does this say? How can a parent of teenagers, who wouldn't want their teens to let an adult into their homes, go out to meet somebody else's teen? While in the act their worst concerns, seem to be, their wives finding out.
  For those, of you, who, still, think, Dateline is responsible for the collateral damage, look again. Some of the negative comments, even from other networks, sound, as if, Dateline pulled the trigger on the Texas prosecutor.
  Sometimes, it seems, as if, some people do it for an opportunity to meet Chris Hansen. For those familiar, with the show, it's not, really, worth the risk.
 Once again, having your name and face on TV isn't the only thing that can go wrong. Any foul move, as nentioned, above, can change your life, forever.
  The point is there's no limit, who, a predator, can be, and Dateline's continuous coverage makes that point, perfectly, clear.
  Reading through the comments and questions I found a very good question. What about the teens who feed into this? I, still, say, the adult men need to be responsible, for their actions, especially those who drive, six hours, to meet the unsupervised child.
  Although there's nothing innocent about a grown man driving, a long distance, to meet a minor for sex, teens feed into it, sometimes, on a dare.
  Teens, usually, have a false sense of invincibility and are, just, as much, responsible, as the adults, who are online, and, may be willing to meet them.
  In the beginning, Chris Hansen stated that he asked a group of teens how many of them were "hit upon" by an adult, online. A show of hands revealed, all of them. When he asked them how many told their parents about it he saw no hands up and eyes staring at the floor.
  Since the beginning, I have not heard, much else, about the teens' end of this issue.
  It's, not, so much, about the innocent teens who don't want, such, advances, but the teens, who feed into it. they know what's going on, they know it's wrong and, unless they are feeling that, bogus, sense of invincibility, they, also, know it can be dangerous.
  So far, the show has been about gaining control of the adults' end of the issue, which needs to be addressed from both sides.


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