Yet another gawdawful story

[n2doc]

Couple charged with making porn video of toddler


Thursday, September 30, 2010

(09-30) 05:37 PDT Fresno, Calif. (AP) --

Federal prosecutors say a California couple shot a sex video of a toddler they were babysitting while the 2-year-old's mother was out getting a tattoo.

Federal prosecutor Brian Enos says 27-year-old Terry Lee Schneider II and his 29-year-old wife Nicole Jean Schneider are charged with producing child pornography.

Federal magistrate Gary Austin on Wednesday ordered the couple held in jail as a danger to society.

The Fresno Bee says a friend found a camcorder in a bedroom the Schneiders had used earlier this year. The woman viewed the video and notified the FBI.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/09/30/state/n053717D90.DTL

[HopeHoops]

1. Um...

:puke:

[marmar]

2. Sick.

nt

[cliffordu]

3. Let's hear those arguments against the death penalty, now....

Jesus fucking keerist.

[EOTE]

5. What does this have to do with the death penalty?

As horrific as what this couple did, it wouldn't be considered a death penalty case. And just because people do horrific and awful things doesn't make the death penalty any less wrong.

[SocialistLez]

7. Your second sentence: +100

"And just because people do horrific and awful things doesn't make the death penalty any less wrong."

It just bears repeating

[Bluenorthwest]

4. So this theory about straight couples being 'sanctified by God'

really does not seem to hold water, does it?

[RZM]

6. This is an abominable crime

And just about everyone in our society (other than some sex offenders) would agree with that sentiment. I hope these two are punished to the fullest extent that the law allows, given the absolutely heinous nature of their crime (I'm going to assume for the sake of argument that they are guilty).

However, I do feel that public attitudes towards sex offenders are to a degree conditioned by the visceral biological reaction that their crimes produce in people. I can only speak for myself, but I have difficultly even thinking about this kind of thing without feeling what might be described as a minor 'panic attack' -- a sort of combination of fear and disgust that easily devolves into hate. My guess is that for evolutionary reasons, many of us are programmed to react strongly against this kind of thing.

There's not much that can be done about this kind of feeling, but unfortunately I think that it ultimately leads to gross violations of human rights in our prisons, where sex offenders are routinely beaten, extorted, raped, and sometimes murdered by other inmates (themselves often predators, though not always of a sexual nature). Many (including prison staff, I imagine) probably think this is 'just desserts' for such criminals, but as much as I hate these types of crimes, I cannot agree. These sick individuals should be punished to the fullest extent under the law, but I don't believe they should endure additional extralegal punishment at the hands of other prison inmates. Like it or not, the state is obligated to ensure the basic human rights of its prisoners and in many cases, it simply does not do that.

It's not just sex offenders who are treated this way, but depending on the time in place, the physically/mentally/emotionally weak and those not affiliated with gang culture endure similar treatment. It's always surprised me a bit that this doesn't get more attention, though Human Rights Watch did issue a report on this a while back. I encourage those who are interested to take a look (it's a pretty tough read, I know):

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/prison/

[SocialistLez]

8. +100