Hatrack River Forum: Monsters and Freedom

This is topic Monsters and Freedom in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

Harvey Stokes, molester, freed

I accept that he should have been able to face his accuser.

But to let him go and not know where he went is idiocy.

:shakes head:

Why couldn't the state have ordered him kept for psychological treatment?

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

If he has been legally acquitted, he has been legally acqitted. That means that that they cannot do anything. And I find it disturbing that he was convicted based on almost nothing besides the testimony of one dead person.

[ April 14, 2004, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: mr_porteiro_head ]

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

Given his history, it is reasonable for anyone with an ounce of sense to believe the dead teen's story.

Not to worry though, someone with his history is bound to re-offend, get caught, and go back to jail. (She said bitterly.) [Grumble]

Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :

If he was acquited that means, in the government's eyes at least, he is innocent of the crime. And it can't force him to do stuff like undergo psychological treatment if he's innocent of the crime. They could have done it for previous crimes, but that was something that would have had to be done before they let him go the first time.

I might add that, although he left the state, the article doesn't say nobody knows where he went. I suspect the authorities might not be so naive - but then again, they might.

This is interesting:

quote:
In a letter to a therapist in the early 1990s, Stokes said he had molested 212 victims and felt like a monster.

"I am angry at myself and others but I still seek out the weak and the unsuspecting as my victims," he wrote then.

Based on that, you'd think that he might willingly accept some additional treatment and monitoring.

Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :

We should just kill him and be done with it.

Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :

Stokes found again, and arrested

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

I was hoping someone would find this thread. I heard this on the radio. Go, Oregon! And he didn't have to re-offend to go back to jail. I love it.

Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :

Well, it doesn't say he'd be going to jail for this crime. And even if he was, I'm sure it would not be for very long.

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

Way to look on the bright side, Tres. [Razz]