Stunt Burns Pedophiles, Prosecutors

[patric]

(Note to prosecutors:  Dont confuse photo-ops and publicity stunts for social responsibility.)


HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — An undercover sex sting that used Miss America as bait may be in trouble after the beauty queen told prosecutors that she does not plan to testify against the men she helped arrest.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070501/NEWS07/70501015&imw=Y

Lauren Nelson, 20, of Lawton, Okla., worked with police in Suffolk County to target would-be Internet sexual predators, taped for an episode of the TV show "America's Most Wanted."

[rwarn17588]

Miss America said she'd testify. Controversy avoided.

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Miss America said she'd testify. Controversy avoided.

That is what I heard on a Fox news similcast on Sirius Sat. Radio last night. Then this morning they were talking about it on Fox News as if they had never reported that she would testify. I am confused.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by RLitterell

That is what I heard on a Fox news similcast on Sirius Sat. Radio last night. Then this morning they were talking about it on Fox News as if they had never reported that she would testify. I am confused.

Her handlers didnt think the original publicity stunt through very well, so the Miss America Organization had to do some quick damage control.
Another low for "reality" television.  

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/231017/miss_america_will_testify_in_sex_predator.html
Despite denials on Monday, Miss America pageant representatives announced on Tuesday, May 1 that 2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson will testify against accused sexual predators that she helped arrest while posing as a 13-year-old on "America's Most Wanted."

On Saturday, April 28, the Fox Television series had introduced a show segment much like NBC "Dateline's" series "To Catch a Predator" where sexual predators are lured from online chatrooms to meet a teenager at a house where police and camera crews are waiting. In this case, Miss America acted as bait, not only participating in the sting, but also the online chats.

After the "America's Most Wanted" sting was taped, an attorney representing one of the accused predators asked for the right to cross-examine the beauty queen. On Monday, April 30, Lauren Nelson's representatives told the Suffolk County District Attorney that she wouldn't be coming back to Long Island to testify.

District Attorney Thomas Spota reacted, stating that at least one of the impending cases might be in jeopardy without Nelson's testimony. He also accused the sting of being "nothing more than a publicity stunt."

He further expressed disappointment that the Suffolk County Police Department didn't inform him of the April 20th sting until the day before.

Suffolk County Police Department spokesperson Tim Motz said, "We will continue to use any means at our disposal to keep our kids safe from sexual predators and focus the public's attention on protecting our children."

Spota responded, "Had they consulted with our office, we would have told them that she's (Nelson) potentially a witness in this case."

Despite the Tuesday announcement by the Miss America Organization spokesperson, Sharon Pearce, assuring Nelson's full cooperation with law enforcement officials including the district attorney office, Spota still was not available for comment.

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by patric

quote:Originally posted by RLitterell

That is what I heard on a Fox news similcast on Sirius Sat. Radio last night. Then this morning they were talking about it on Fox News as if they had never reported that she would testify. I am confused.

Her handlers didnt think the original publicity stunt through very well, so the Miss America Organization had to do some quick damage control.
Another low for "reality" television.  

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/231017/miss_america_will_testify_in_sex_predator.html
Despite denials on Monday, Miss America pageant representatives announced on Tuesday, May 1 that 2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson will testify against accused sexual predators that she helped arrest while posing as a 13-year-old on "America's Most Wanted."

On Saturday, April 28, the Fox Television series had introduced a show segment much like NBC "Dateline's" series "To Catch a Predator" where sexual predators are lured from online chatrooms to meet a teenager at a house where police and camera crews are waiting. In this case, Miss America acted as bait, not only participating in the sting, but also the online chats.

After the "America's Most Wanted" sting was taped, an attorney representing one of the accused predators asked for the right to cross-examine the beauty queen. On Monday, April 30, Lauren Nelson's representatives told the Suffolk County District Attorney that she wouldn't be coming back to Long Island to testify.

District Attorney Thomas Spota reacted, stating that at least one of the impending cases might be in jeopardy without Nelson's testimony. He also accused the sting of being "nothing more than a publicity stunt."

He further expressed disappointment that the Suffolk County Police Department didn't inform him of the April 20th sting until the day before.

Suffolk County Police Department spokesperson Tim Motz said, "We will continue to use any means at our disposal to keep our kids safe from sexual predators and focus the public's attention on protecting our children."

Spota responded, "Had they consulted with our office, we would have told them that she's (Nelson) potentially a witness in this case."

Despite the Tuesday announcement by the Miss America Organization spokesperson, Sharon Pearce, assuring Nelson's full cooperation with law enforcement officials including the district attorney office, Spota still was not available for comment.

While I am sure the sting generated a lot of publicity for Miss Nelson and The Miss America organization I am not sure why the D.A.Thomas Spota would call it a stunt. Wasn't he in on the sting from the beginning? Does he not support the effort?
Miss Nelson stated as one of her interest the safety of the internet for children. All to often today pedophile lurk in chat rooms frequented by children for the sole purpose of preying on them. I think her participation in the effort is laudable regardless of the publicity it generated for her or The Miss America organization, good or bad.
This type of activity always makes me wonder too, where are these childrens parents or adult supervisors. Much could be done about this problem with a little oversite from the guardian.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by RLitterell

quote:Originally posted by patric

quote:Originally posted by RLitterell

That is what I heard on a Fox news similcast on Sirius Sat. Radio last night. Then this morning they were talking about it on Fox News as if they had never reported that she would testify. I am confused.

Her handlers didnt think the original publicity stunt through very well, so the Miss America Organization had to do some quick damage control.
Another low for "reality" television.  

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/231017/miss_america_will_testify_in_sex_predator.html
Despite denials on Monday, Miss America pageant representatives announced on Tuesday, May 1 that 2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson will testify against accused sexual predators that she helped arrest while posing as a 13-year-old on "America's Most Wanted."

On Saturday, April 28, the Fox Television series had introduced a show segment much like NBC "Dateline's" series "To Catch a Predator" where sexual predators are lured from online chatrooms to meet a teenager at a house where police and camera crews are waiting. In this case, Miss America acted as bait, not only participating in the sting, but also the online chats.

After the "America's Most Wanted" sting was taped, an attorney representing one of the accused predators asked for the right to cross-examine the beauty queen. On Monday, April 30, Lauren Nelson's representatives told the Suffolk County District Attorney that she wouldn't be coming back to Long Island to testify.

District Attorney Thomas Spota reacted, stating that at least one of the impending cases might be in jeopardy without Nelson's testimony. He also accused the sting of being "nothing more than a publicity stunt."

He further expressed disappointment that the Suffolk County Police Department didn't inform him of the April 20th sting until the day before.

Suffolk County Police Department spokesperson Tim Motz said, "We will continue to use any means at our disposal to keep our kids safe from sexual predators and focus the public's attention on protecting our children."

Spota responded, "Had they consulted with our office, we would have told them that she's (Nelson) potentially a witness in this case."

Despite the Tuesday announcement by the Miss America Organization spokesperson, Sharon Pearce, assuring Nelson's full cooperation with law enforcement officials including the district attorney office, Spota still was not available for comment.

While I am sure the sting generated a lot of publicity for Miss Nelson and The Miss America organization I am not sure why the D.A.Thomas Spota would call it a stunt. Wasn't he in on the sting from the beginning? Does he not support the effort?
Miss Nelson stated as one of her interest the safety of the internet for children. All to often today pedophile lurk in chat rooms frequented by children for the sole purpose of preying on them. I think her participation in the effort is laudable regardless of the publicity it generated for her or The Miss America organization, good or bad.
This type of activity always makes me wonder too, where are these childrens parents or adult supervisors. Much could be done about this problem with a little oversite from the guardian.

He stated above that he was not aware until the day before.

It's a stunt because "being miss america" did nothing to help the cause. It's not like she was standing on a street corner. She was typing in chat rooms. She was doing more of the "appearance" of helping than really helping.

It's kinda like calling a "groundbreaking ceremony" with the gold shovels "excavation."