Feds want to seize home of a guy I used to know, not sure how I feel about it.

[karlrschneider]

http://www.kotv.com/

I knew David Abston fairly well back in the mid 1970s...he was a cop in Muskogee, OK and I lived there as chief pilot for a local major employer. He's accused of having 3 pictures of naked teenage boys on his computer - I obviously don't know the details of what are in these alleged pics or whatever he
has been up to since I last saw him 30 years ago but he never struck me as being a pervert. It seems to me that he's being tried and convicted in the media, though. This particular station, the CBS affiliate is the only one that has even mentioned the story. It does seem to me though, that taking away his house might be overkill. Damnit, I just don't know...if he's guilty of something serious I guess I could see it but does having a few pornographic pictures (if that's what they are) justify
confiscating his home? urk..

[mcscajun]

1. The Federal charge is distributing child pornography.

If he is guilty, I have no sympathy for him. None.

[karlrschneider]

3. If he is guilty, I don't either but so far I haven't seen any evidence he was

actually 'distributing' them. Maybe the evidence exists but there hasn't been any mention of it.
I'm just saying, we all know about citizens being railroaded the last couple of years in the name of
'national security' and so on. I have to remain objective though, but I don't have a lot of trust
in the feds in either 'terrorist' or other venues. There are other political undertones involved here too which I can elaborate on but I'm not up to composing a summary right now...

[Warpy]

4. Forefeiture laws are unconstitutional

and he may not be the only one living in that house.

Taking his house is overkill and unconstitutional unless it's by eminent domain, and then they have to pay him and/or his family.

I don't care what he's accused of. Forefeiture laws are just plain evil.

Throw his ass in jail, offer him voluntary chemical or surgical castration, register him and keep his mug on perv boards for the rest of his life if he's convicted.

Just don't deprive his family of what may be his only asset.

[karlrschneider]

6. I agree that forfeiture laws are unconstitutional. Too bad courts don't.

I almost lost a car back in ...84? My friend borrowed my car and got stopped by the Tampa cops, they found a joint (his) in the glove box. They impounded it and were filing the paperwork to confiscate it. Luckily, I was able to convince a top cop not to do it and I got it back, $150 later for towing and storage.

[PsN2Wind]

7. Forfeiture should only be

able to be exercised when the property forfeited had been purchased with the gains from the crime charged. Otherwise it isn't forfeiture it's simple confiscation.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. It sounds like he's in deep trouble, guilty or no.

One can only hope that the Feds have a very strong case if they're trying to confiscate his house.
As for not seeming to be a pervert when you knew him, some of the best hide it well.

[Mist]

5. What on earth does Kiddie porn have to do with seizing his house? I'm

not defending the kiddie porn stuff, it's just that seizing the house is inappropriate.

[mcscajun]

10. The issue (which has not been proven yet) is distribution, not possession

of child pornography. Under the laws that exist, anything representing gains from illegal activity is subject to seizure.

[newburgh]

8. Forfeiture in drug cases should be enforced...

In my small city it would make all the difference. The slumlords that rent to the dealers and absently allow it to occur need to be seriously penalized. BTW, what ever happened to the federal drug forfeiture laws?

In this case, minus the details, 3 pictures on a computer is ludicrous, let alone serious enough to accuse anyone of anything. I'll bet most computers in the world can be found to have such things inadvertently. Not only that, but even if these were intentionally on his computer because he enjoyed them, what's the harm? If he's distributing them or creating them that's one thing. Grabbing them off websites where they remain on his hard drive is quite another. I'm sure I'm going to get flamed if I say this, but pornography, I feel, prevents people from acting on their quirks that may be unacceptable in general society. The picture is as far as the fantasy goes for the most part. What's next? Basing divorce cases on pornographic photos on computers? It would also be interesting to find out how he was "caught"? Most of these cases sound suspect to me when I read about them. What could be more 1984?

[mcscajun]

11. The Federal charge IS Distribution.

IF and When he is found guilty, then under current laws, anything representing gains from such illegal activity is subject to seizure.

[jarab]

12. I respectfully disagree with you .....

"...Not only that, but even if these were intentionally on his computer because he enjoyed them, what's the harm? ...."

....O...

[newburgh]

14. After reading the post above about more activities...

if he's found guilty, I do agree he should be put away as long as possible. However, if it was just the images on his computer- and if he wasn't distributing them- I'd like to hear about what you, or anyone else, thinks the harm is? Does having images on your computer now compose evidence of possible future actions? Talk about a slippery slope...

[Nicole]

9. It looks like losing his home is the least of his worries

There are child molestation and rape allegations that are being investigated too.

More victims claimed

Since Tuesday, police have received between 20 and 30 calls alleging more victims.

Irwin expects to receive additional calls.

All the allegations involve boys younger than 12, he said.

"If parents have dropped their kids off at the rink or notice a change in behavior, ... certainly talk with them, and if anything inappropriate has happened, call the police," Irwin said.

He said the rink is the only one in the city, has been there about 20 years and is a popular place with kids.

Abston could face additional charges of molestation, rape and forcible sodomy once Broken Arrow's investigation is complete, Irwin said.


http://www.newsok.com/article/2972460

He sounds like another Michael Jackson

Mother Of Alleged Molestation Victim Speaks Out

"When I was contacted by the police that there had been a search at the home of David Abston, my heart just sank. I just got sick."

Her son spent a lot of time at Roller City skating rink and befriended the boy living with Abston, often spending the night.

"You can't ever tell. The people who seem to be the nicest can be the sickest."

She never suspected what her son finally told her.

"He was just taught to do something that a boy his age shouldn't even know about. It was just totally inappropriate."

Her attorney also spoke with us exclusively about what he's learned in this case.

"According to my clients, he created almost a fantasyland at his home," says Derek Ingle. "He literally converted his own master bedroom into a virtual playground for children, for young boys. With all sorts of video games. He had anything they'd want to eat or drink. He would create this environment where boys wanted to go."

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1106/375150.html

That station you mentioned isn't the only one talking about this guy. He's making the news statewide and not in a good way..

[MadHound]

13. Sorry, no matter what crimes this guy has committed, he shouldn't forfeit his house

Or frankly any other property. Peope laughed at me back when forfeiture laws started coming down the pike for drug offenses, scoffed at the notion that it would be applied to other crimes. Well, here we are, applying it to the most despised crime of all, pedophilia. One more skid down that proverbial slope. Give it ten years or so, and every single felony, and quite possibly some misdemeanors, will come with its own forfeiture. These damn things are unconstitutional and immoral. Yet I'm sure that people still feel good about them, since they're only being applied to "those people".

Sorry about your friend, you never know what lurks in peoples' hearts. And yes, a lot of sex offender crimes involving children do get tried in the media. Hopefully he has a good lawyer, he's going to need one. That being said, if he is guilty of this, then he deserves his punishment(excepting having his house seized). And once he gets out, I would recommend that you stay away from him. Once a sex offender, always a sex offender in the eyes of the law and the public at large. If you associate with him, well then you will get tarred with the same brush.