Sokol has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted sexual assault and is awaiting trial. The next night, Dianna posted Todd's bail. They went to arrest him. He burst into tears. In fact, I'm going to give serious thought to reaching out to some people who could take part in that. A month later Dianna finally allowed Todd to see her daughters. Until we deal with this as a society and reduce the demand, were going to have this problem. "He called a few days later, and we were pretty much together after that." Her phone rang endlessly. She'd told her mother, who had confronted the abuser, but charges were never pressed. Rachel called Todd, exulting, "Mom says she'll still marry you. For upwards of US$100,000 per episode, the production hired controversial vigilante group Perverted-Justice to assist in the "exposure [and] arrest of men ostensibly interested in having sex with children."Perverted-Justice entered chat rooms and posed as children to lure such men to a . "Rachel didn't say a word to me for two weeks," she says. While reruns of To Catch a Predator still air regularly, no new episodes have been shot since 2007. But if its kids, its really simple. If we find out theres potential danger, the police arrest him before he comes in we dont want a dangerous situation. Absolutely. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Company Credits (Note: Ambrosio was a 19-year-old arrested during a recent investigation in Fairfield, Conn.). To Catch A Predator - The Predator That Brought His Own Decoy ,To Catch A Predator Caught A Teenager They Felt So Sorry For, That They Didn't Even Air This E. "We've hired a young-looking 19-year-old named Amanda to play the part of . It was devoted to impersonating To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television news magazine program Dateline NBC. He knew hed face 10 years in prison for each image. "He knew that Todd had acted like an idiot," says Dianna. Theyre either defending themselves, explaining themselves, or confessing their sins. His arresting officer, Sheriff Mike Jolley, thinks she is deceiving herself: "I've arrested a lot of men like Todd, and I don't believe it's a first time for any of them. Have I done my daughters irreparable harm? Asra Q. Nomani is the author of Standing Alone: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam. "He did a bad thing. Knowing that youre behind us means so much. One thing you see a lot about today is how difficult it is for sex offenders to find jobs and housing when they get out. When asked about how the series came about, Hansen explained that, The idea grew out of a conversation I had years ago, with a fellow reporter, a friend of mine. Official Sites Cookie Notice The Dark Truth Behind The U.S. Alliance For Election Excellence! As generations of college kids graduated and watched it, they thought it was brand new. It was a hit. Jeffrey Stacey - Predator: [In a high pitched Mickey Mouse sounding voice] What's wrong with that? This wasnt the first time my office has worked with SOSA to apprehend child predators, and I hope theyll continue to be available to assist with our child predator program in the future, said West. I think it would be fascinating. He also noted that he has never been contacted by any of the men following filming. "He came all this way!" 2023 Cond Nast. I have a hard time feeling sorry for him. I've had to ask forgiveness from peopleand they've given it," she says. I dont know if he had a closet life, I dont know what was going on. Over the next few days, the image of Todd sitting in jail played in her head. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. And we also have means to find out more about these people before they actually show up. And then youve got to make the decision of whether to air it. People always say, These guys should be thrown away, and I say, Some of them can be fixed. We have not invested in treatment for this like we have in alcoholism, or heroin, or cocaine. Dianna Strawder's dream of a happy marriage was shattered when her fianc was caught trying to seduce a 14-year-old girl on national television. Those arrested were processed and booked at the Canadian County Sheriffs Office Detention Facility on charges of facilitating sexual communication with a minor, lewd acts with a child under 16, intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance to a minor, and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act. I think it's going to be a more sophisticated program. The site also posted a profile about Todd's crime, with links to his e-mail address, IM names and phone number. ", But in other ways, life remained eerily uneventful. Even Dianna's ex-husband had changed his mind about Todd. "I love the guy like a brother," he said. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Nonprofit journalism about criminal justice, A nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system, Intimate portraits of people who have been touched by the criminal justice system. On the drive home, Dianna sobbed. Links:Todd Westhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/Todd_Westhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNz8V_stc1U (Fortson, Ga TCaP episode)http://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=x_cums_in_the_night_xAnthony Palumbohttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/Anthony_Palumbohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpxxuvCEX8g\u0026t=303shttp://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=HibuddywazsupJohn Christopher Weaverhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/John_Christopher_Weaverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYxEqs6KVhMhttp://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=sharkiesfin2000Marshall Girtmanhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/Marshall_Girtmanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNz8V_stc1U (Fortson, Ga TCaP episode)http://www.perverted-justice.com/?con=hiexcitementCorey Edgarhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/Corey_Edgarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU-8eAHz83A\u0026t=1shttp://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=ricks_talented_tongueRandall Wolfordhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/Randall_Wolfordhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43wSSjv9zBY\u0026list=PLcsx_PsEZwVs4fFJokfzJhGtguJEc0XJ3\u0026index=3Timothy Isaachttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/Timothy_Isaachttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ6tcoztLcE\u0026list=PLcsx_PsEZwVs4fFJokfzJhGtguJEc0XJ3\u0026index=5http://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=parknride_469John Elliotthttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/John_Elliotthttp://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=bald_beaver_hunter42025https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSEYcXLKTW8\u0026list=PLcsx_PsEZwVs4fFJokfzJhGtguJEc0XJ3\u0026index=6William Rowellhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/William_Rowellhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXZ_lLEzga8http://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=bearinwolfsfurDavid Hilbishhttps://to-catch-a-predator.fandom.com/wiki/David_Hilbishhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oULufZycpP4\u0026t=216shttp://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=tunnels12000 To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television news magazine program Dateline NBC. She didn't initially tell her daughters, but later that week, when she picked them up from their father's house, she had to face a question from 13-year-old Rachel. Dianna expected to feel more settled after their quiet elopement, but the opposite proved true. And what do you make of criticism that what you do isnt really journalism? I dont think so. We actually got a call from the lawyers at Mike's Hard Lemonade asking us to not use their product anymore, Hansen said. Her fianc, she learned, had been caught in a sting orchestrated by the popular Dateline: To Catch a Predator series. Samantha Cope The suspects are accused of sending nude photos to the decoys and describing sex acts the arrestees desired to perform with the purported girls. "You deserve better than this," he repeatedly told her. There was a settlement in that case, so Im somewhat limited in what I can say. "You love him, and we love him.". "You tell me." Can you believe it?" The minors are adults impersonating underage persons (generally ages 13-15) in online chats. The elaborate sting was a joint operation between CCSO and the nonprofit organization Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA). We dont go above 14 for the victims age, just so it is a clear case. In his 30-plus-year career as an investigative journalist, Chris Hansen has had occasion to come into contact with all sorts of criminal types. He hadn't believed she was 14her language had been too sophisticated, and when he saw her in person, he'd sized her up as being of legal age. [emailprotected]. But another memory kept surfacing too. Its the nature of the Internet the anonymity, the addictive quality, the 24/7 access. They were going to go to school with that on their shoulders every day," Dianna recalls. And from HVP of course we have me, my mommy and . While reruns of To Catch a Predator still air regularly, no new episodes have been shot since 2007. Chris Hansen, the host of Crime Watch Daily.. All movies, books and CDs with references to children were banned. But what isn't often shown is the grief and humiliation of those closest to the predators, particularly their wives and girlfriends. In April 2015, Chris Hansen announced the start of a Kickstarter campaign to fund a reboot of the series. The mark would arrive at a camera-rigged decoy house, where Hansen would emerge with his signature line: Why dont you have a seat? After a brief, squirmy interview, police would swoop in for an arrest. I always thought Todd was nice. Have a tip or story idea? The show didn't ultimately cave to criticism about "entrapment." By going to the location of their own volition to try and sleep with someone they believed to be a minor, the perps on To Catch a Predator were freely attempting to engage in illegal activity on their own. I think we evolve and get smarter every time we do it. "I don't believe he is the man that Dateline says he is," she says. He would never, ever do anything bad to a child. At the jail, Todd requests an attorney, refusing to speak further until one is brought to him. "But he wasn't a child molester." Two, its compelling television. Authorities say that SOSA provided the operation with two female actresses who acted as bait. Dianna stared at him, tears blurring her vision. On her weekly two-hour drives to the prison, Dianna would be greeted by an increasingly fragile and withdrawn Todd. Did the 2006 suicide lead to questions about whether you went too far? https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2338787/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1. The elaborate sting was a joint operation between CCSO and the nonprofit organization Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA). Remember that the majority of the interaction is on hidden camera. But I'll also have some new catchphrases as well., In discussing the ways in which Hansen vs. When she told her daughters of her choice, they were furious. Because we'll have more space to tell the story., When asked how often hes teased about his catchphrase and invited to have a seat, a chuckling Hansen said it happens Only about 12 times a week. Todd seemed like the furthest thing from that," she says. To Catch a Predator (2004-2007) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Film Editing by Series Sound Department Series Camera and Electrical Department See also Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs "While it is never easy to accept that someone you know, even online, has been convicted of such a horrific crime, it is important that you, the general public, be made aware of this serious offense." The best decoy on To Catch a Predator is a woman, her name is Casey Mauro. Those arrested were processed and booked at the Canadian County Sheriffs Office Detention Facility on charges of facilitating sexual communication with a minor, lewd acts with a child under 16, intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance to a minor, and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act. Dianna's ex-husband had similar feelings. Trace Turkelson, William Copeland IV, Cody Ewing, Tracy Fisher, and Otha Smith III (Canadian County Sheriffs Office). There has always been a debate about shaming in enterprise journalism. And we investigate equally.. But this whole mess has become more trouble than it's worth.". But she didn't have time to wonder; she had to get to her job as a medical technician at Loganville Dialysis Center, outside Atlanta, where she would spend the day tending to dialysis patients, hooking them up to the whooshing machines that kept them alive. Date of birth May 5, 1987 Place of birth Salt Lake City, Utah Samantha Cope was the female decoy involved in the Flagler Beach, Florida edition of To Catch A Predator. The suspects are accused of sending nude photos to the decoys and describing sex acts the arrestees desired to perform with the purported girls. Filming & Production We learned about the online watchdog group, Perverted Justice, and I figured if we could combine their talent posting as decoys with our hidden camera technology, it could be pretty compelling. Her friend Joe (who didn't want his last name used) says, "When Dianna asked me what I thought, I told her to get out of the relationship. Hosted by Chris Hansen, To Catch a Predator is a series that recurred on the TV news magazine Dateline NBC. Five men in Oklahoma have been arrested after law enforcement authorities conducted a four-day sting to catch child sex predators. Technology has improvedfor everything from the cameras to the microphones. Todd had been arrested for trying to solicit sex from a decoy disguised as an underage girl. According to the sheriffs office, Otha Smith traveled the farthest of the five suspects, driving about five hours to meet one of the decoy actresses at a hotel. Consenting adults can do whatever they want. Ad Choices. Even so, Dianna felt that Todd was falling apart. ", In discussing how they pick decoys for the show, Hansen explained that decoys are chosen because they look young, but have the maturity to play the part in a responsible and safe way., When asked how he responds to those people who see To Catch a Predator as a type of entrapment, Hansen explained that, It's not entrapment. "Do you have any special ideas for tonight or anything?" Hansen thinks that making a show out of following up with the predators he has encountered in the past is "an excellent idea. Soon after they walked into the restaurant, Wadkins said, "You have children. All suspects were also worried about being caught by law enforcement, and some asked the decoys to do live chats to ensure they were real people., In addition to the decoy house, the sting included the use of hotels and restaurants that investigators say were selected by the suspects. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [The suspects] have to make the first move, then raise the specter of sex, then come to the house. I think it would be socially irresponsible and somewhat dangerous. Her comfort came from her relationship with the community of friends she and Todd had established via MySpace, most of whom didn't know about Todd's crime. We do a vast amount of research on these men: does he have a concealed weapons permit? She had to ask herself: Who is this man I said I'd marry? He tried to get them off the hard drives, and he couldnt. 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Copeland IV, Cody Ewing, Tracy Fisher, and he couldnt, Todd requests an attorney, to... The purported girls closet life, I dont know what was going on the interaction is on camera... User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights quality the. As well., in discussing the ways in which Hansen vs peopleand they given...