I... just... what.It's a case involving a singer and YouTube video which has parents livid, prosecutors pushing for 20 years of jail time, and some Facebook users calling for a much lighter punishment, or nothing at all.
School officials and prosecutors in Eastern Michigan recently found out about the video, which was posted online last week.
On Thursday, Evan Emory, 21, was charged with one felony count of making child sexually abusive material at a courthouse in Moskegon, Michigan on Thursday.
Emory was given permission last month by officials at Beechnau Elementary school in the city of Ravenna, to record a video as a personal project. He sang the "Lunch Lady Song" for first graders in a classroom. Later, when the room was empty, he went in to sing a different version of the song containing sexually explicit lyrics and gestures.
He edited the video so that it would appear that he was singing the second version of the song to the children and posted the final video to YouTube.com. Children's faces were identifiable on the video, according to reports. The video has been taken down since then.
Emory's defense attorney has said his client did not think through his actions and feels badly about the incident, according to reports.
Emory said he just wanted to make people laugh in a televised interview.
There were more than a dozen angry parents in the courtroom, and protesters outside during the hearing, according to reports. Meanwhile, Facebook users have started a "Free Evan Emory" page, where some posters have linked to YouTube videos showing network television and cable programs that they say are no different and could even be considered worse.
The singer was released on a $5,000 family surety bond and is set to appear in court again next month. He has been ordered not to come into contact with minors. He has also agreed not to attend any open mic nights in the duration of the case. He reportedly played the video at one such event.
But... he didn't did he? He cut footage of the kids into his song. Assuming thats all true it's not different from a million other things that do the same thing to make it look like kids are being exposed to horrible stuff. Right now I'm watching Reno911 Season 6 and they have an entire running gag on the series where this is done.You can't make lewd videos with kids in them. They are just not buying his editing story. In the end, he is screwed. Prisoners love child pornographers...
Excerpts from Evan Emory video, including lyrics and description of children:
“See how long it takes to make your panties mine”
(wide shot of the children)
“I'll add some foreplay in just to make it fun”
(close up of girl laughing)
“I want you to suck on my testes until I spurt in your face”
(close up of girl covering her mouth)
“I'll lick on your chewie”
(close up of two girls covering their mouths)
“I want to stick my index finger in your anus”
(close up of boy making a shocked face)
“I'll be the bus riding your ass up and down my town”
(close up of boy with grossed-out look on his face)
“I'm gonna use my sausage to make fettucine, then for dessert have a Harry Houdini”
I'm sorry, what law did he break?Gee, sorry, you broke the law.
Is Reno 911 shot in Michigan?
I can agree with this.Frankly, while I don't think he deserves jail time, he does need some kind of punishment. He lied to school officials to get into the school, got no releases from parents, and attached the faces of children to a sexually explicit song. Dude is a fucking moron. He broke the law. This goes beyond minor stupid mistake.
Soooo... people should be thrown in jail for being stupid? Wouldn't it be easier to, I dunno, build a wall around the country and hire some Mexicans as guards?Well, okay then. Hearing those details has me convinced he did break the law. Like you said, I think 20 years is too much, but if all of that is true then he is an idiot and should be punished.
Sometimes, I think its only a matter of time before there's more people on the sex offender registry than there are actual children in America.Now throw on top of those charges.... that he will likely have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his days.
Again, he broke. The. Law. Therefore, punishment. Lots of crime, particularly from the 20-something age group, is the result of doing something stupid. The fact that it is a stupid youthful indiscretion or that he meant it to be funny doesn't actually make it less illegal.Soooo... people should be thrown in jail for being stupid? Wouldn't it be easier to, I dunno, build a wall around the country and hire some Mexicans as guards?
There is a difference, though, between getting a fine, some community service, or whatever for a stupid prank and getting sentenced for up to twenty years on child pornography charges.Again, he broke. The. Law. Therefore, punishment. Lots of crime, particularly from the 20-something age group, is the result of doing something stupid. The fact that it is a stupid youthful indiscretion or that he meant it to be funny doesn't actually make it less illegal.
Technically, anything that can be seen from outside the house is considered to be a public display. The law is like that because a lot of exhibitionists out there would purposefully do stuff like this in front of their windows to get off.
They snuck onto his property, and looked in his windows, and he gets arrested for "public" indecency?!
Does that include if someone has to step onto your property to do so, or just if they can see it from the street?Technically, anything that can be seen from outside the house is considered to be a public display. The law is like that because a lot of exhibitionists out there would purposefully do stuff like this in front of their windows to get off.
Do laws on this vary by state? I was under the impression that they do.Technically, anything that can be seen from outside the house is considered to be a public display. The law is like that because a lot of exhibitionists out there would purposefully do stuff like this in front of their windows to get off.
While I would say that's unfair, why the living hell was this guy dancing naked in front of a window that wasn't in way blocked? Blinds, curtains, window shade, something? That's just asking for an indecent exposure charge man. You can't be naked where your neighbors can see you, even in your own home. Letting it all hang out in front of the living room picture window is every bit as illegal as doing so on the front lawn (at least in most places). That's not rocket science. Hide your shame or find a nudist camp.A friend of my wife's was in his house dancing naked to some techno music really loud. Some neighborhood kids looked in his windows and saw him naked. They ran & got their parents who also went to look in the window. The next day he was arrested at work for 4 counts of public indecency. The "victims" went out of their way to peep in at him and then had him arrested. If convicted he'll have to register as a sex offender and will be unable to practice as a pediatric physician ever again.
Yes, yes, protecting kids from perverts is "unfair". Occasionally, yeah, mostly innocent folks get grabbed in the dragnet, but shit happens. Speaking as someone who narrowly avoided being a victim when he was a kid (talked to a 21 year old counselor from scout camp via AIM for nigh a year, he dropped off the face of the planet for a month before I found out he'd been arrested for fondling boys in his scout troop...me and a buddy had been planning to hang out with him at camp later that summer), having these strict ass penalties is better than not.Our laws "protecting the children" are out of whack and totally unfair.
Considering the "strict ass penalties" given out by our justice system regarding sex offenses, that's more than just a case of "shit happens". Part of the spirit of our justice system is to specifically prevent innocent people from being unjustly convicted.Occasionally, yeah, mostly innocent folks get grabbed in the dragnet, but shit happens.
My statement was imprecise: occaisonally, innocent intentioned people get caught in the dragnet and should be judged accordingly. However, if one doesn't wish to be considered a sex offender, the solution isn't exactly super hard: don't be naked in public, don't talk dirty to (or make it appear you've talked dirty to) kids, and don't e-mail around pictures of under aged girls. Because that is exactly what happened in that first story you cited. A legal adult, in a fit of anger, texted naked pictures of a sixteen year old (and therefore under age) girl to just about everyone in his phone. That is a failure on his part, not the justice system. And I shall cry for the serial rapists and child molesters being locked away from potential victims right about the time I start crying over Hosni Mubarak getting overthrown or Uday Hussein being killed.Considering the "strict ass penalties" given out by our justice system regarding sex offenses, that's more than just a case of "shit happens". Part of the spirit of our justice system is to specifically prevent innocent people from being unjustly convicted.
When the system can send teens to jail for sexting and decide that sex offenders can be held in prison indefinitely after the end of their court-determined sentences, there are severe problems that need to be addressed with more than just a shrug.
You mean, he sent pictures of his girlfriend that he'd been dating for years from before he was a legal adult. That just makes him a bad boyfriend and an asshole, not a sex offender. If the law is incapable of coping with the realities of teens dating, then the law is in horribly bad shape.A legal adult, in a fit of anger, texted naked pictures of a sixteen year old (and therefore under age) girl to just about everyone in his phone.
I'm not sure if you're being willfully obtuse, but allowing Congress to decide that a particular class of criminal hasn't been in jail long enough after the fact is a terrible precedent.And I shall cry for the serial rapists and child molesters being locked away from potential victims right about the time I start crying over Hosni Mubarak getting overthrown or Uday Hussein being killed.
Or teenagers could be, you know, not stupid enough to send naked pictures around. They should be smart enough to delete the pictures after a few...uses if they do get them. I'm 21, and dated a girl three years younger than me for 2.5 years, with the relationship ending all of six months ago or so. You bet your sweet bippy we knew the legal ramifications of every single thing we did (should we have gotten caught) and behaved accordingly. Deleted dirty texts. Fooled around in places where we were unlikely to be caught. Were waiting until she turned eighteen to do the "wild thing". It is not the law's business to be parsing out the difference between an 18 year old who has pictures of his underage girlfriend and the 20 something who collects pictures of under age girls and the 30 year old who held onto the mass "sext" that his nephew sent of his teeny bopper girlfriend. Again, the solution is simple - don't keep naked pictures of under aged girls around your house, and you won't get popped for under-age porn charges. The dude could (more than likely, based what I know of consent laws) legally have sex with her. Isn't that enough?You mean, he sent pictures of his girlfriend that he'd been dating for years from before he was a legal adult. That just makes him a bad boyfriend and an asshole, not a sex offender. If the law is incapable of coping with the realities of teens dating, then the law is in horribly bad shape.
Fair enough. I, personally, consider sexual offenses to be deserving of life sentences. Hell, I'd sentence your average rapist far harsher than I'd sentence you average murderer. As I understand it, murder usually is done with a goal in mind. Money, anger, revenge, honor, etc. There's a person specific reason. It deserves a long ass sentence, but the chance of recidivism strikes me as lower than average. On the other hand, rapists tend who have a psychological reason. A need to dominate, to prove their power, etc. That's not super specific. That strikes me as the kind of thing that will pop up again. Let the fuckers rot. But you are right - the law as written sets a poor precedent.I'm not sure if you're being willfully obtuse, but allowing Congress to decide that a particular class of criminal hasn't been in jail long enough after the fact is a terrible precedent.
You want longer sentences for sex offenders? Fine. Then change the laws so future sex offenders get longer sentences. But holding people indefinitely after they've served their court-appointed sentences just because they're the class of criminal the public currently sends the most fearful letters about makes a mockery of our justice system.
Actually, that's always been the law's business. It's why we have different levels of charges for similar crimes.It is not the law's business to be parsing out the difference between an 18 year old who has pictures of his underage girlfriend and the 20 something who collects pictures of under age girls and the 30 year old who held onto the mass "sext" that his nephew sent of his teeny bopper girlfriend.
Obviously too far after the fact to do much good, but you have my deepest condolences, to both you and your niece. A friend of mine experienced something far too similar.I admit though, I am far less than objective on these issues. In addition to my experiences with a tweenage-boy fondler, my eldest step-"niece" was raped. At a very young age, and with her birth mother's consent. She can never have kids because of it, and has a whole host of relationship issues as well. The guys who did it? Never prosecuted. Never caught. No evidence. Her mother? Has a warrant out for child abuse charges. Which was heartening four years ago. Now its a joke. So yes...I'm not super objective. If anything, I want harsher laws.
But they aren't "similar" crimes. They are the same crime, with different perpetrators. Its not like you can really delineate between intent here...there's only one thing you do with sexy pictures of naked ladies.Actually, that's always been the law's business. It's why we have different levels of charges for similar crimes.
Thank you. My experience was admittedly simply a close call...but at the time, it was pretty earth shaking. My "niece's" experience...I find it unfathomable.Obviously too far after the fact to do much good, but you have my deepest condolences, to both you and your niece. A friend of mine experienced something far too similar.
Yup, that's why we call them judges and not Strict Law Enactors.I think Dave's point is that this guy is clearly, not a pervert or child abuser and to lump him in with them is the wrong thing to do. I don't think anyone is saying he can't and shouldn't get in trouble for being an idiot and not obtaining permission from the parents but just because a law has "strict ass penalties" doesn't mean a judge has to give them out. Part of the final judgement in a case like this should be a judge going, okay, whats really going on here and deciding based on their view of the case not just whatever law the prosecutors slap on them.
Plus thats just a mouthful and we are lazy people.Yup, that's why we call them judges and not Strict Law Enactors.
The laws are written by people that are running for re-election. So it looks like you are hard-on crime if you ad strict mandatory sentences to vague laws.Yup, that's why we call them judges and not Strict Law Enactors.
I think there has been a pretty lively debate on this topic before, but in the end it's one thats going to split people.On a side note, I do not in any way condone it, but explain to me what the criminal part of photoshopped/drawn child pornography is again? I know that real cp is because there is a victim and damage done, but in the other sense?
And outside of "It's just a little to damn close to the real thing" I'm not sure there is one. It's one of those things that those in power who might have to vote on aren't going to be like, "Well it's not really CP... it's just pretend CP". I mean, thats kind of just asking for your political career to end.Oh I agree it's morally wrong and against what I believe too, I've just never heard a convincing argument against it, legally speaking.
Again, it's just that "fake" cp just doesn't go over well with most civilized folks. Should it be treated the same as real cp in the legal system? Probably not, it's not actual child abuse, but it should be treated very, very seriously imo.I can see their reasoning, but it's just not a strong enough argument.
Does this so-called "parody" video promote children as sex objects, or sexuallize children? If so, even if real children were not harmed, it may fall foul of child pornography laws."We think that child pornography, in any form, promotes values and sends the message that it is OK to sexually abuse children. It helps pedophiles to justify their ideas or behavior and it desensitizes society as a whole." (source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20040427zg.html )
I think an argument can be made that it casts the kids as sex objects, based on that.“See how long it takes to make your panties mine”
(wide shot of the children)
“I'll add some foreplay in just to make it fun”
(close up of girl laughing)
“I want you to suck on my testes until I spurt in your face”
(close up of girl covering her mouth)
“I'll lick on your chewie”
(close up of two girls covering their mouths)
“I want to stick my index finger in your anus”
(close up of boy making a shocked face)
“I'll be the bus riding your ass up and down my town”
(close up of boy with grossed-out look on his face)
“I'm gonna use my sausage to make fettucine, then for dessert have a Harry Houdini”
(close up of girl laughing and rocking)
...why? Did something come up in the process about him actually harming children, or putting them in a position to be harmed? It's not like he can't make another video, seeing as how the first one was edited together in the first place.And when he emerges from jail, Emory can’t be within 500 feet of children under the age of 17.
So the idea is to not get caught... interesting.Or teenagers could be, you know, not stupid enough to send naked pictures around. They should be smart enough to delete the pictures after a few...uses if they do get them. I'm 21, and dated a girl three years younger than me for 2.5 years, with the relationship ending all of six months ago or so. You bet your sweet bippy we knew the legal ramifications of every single thing we did (should we have gotten caught) and behaved accordingly. Deleted dirty texts. Fooled around in places where we were unlikely to be caught.
Then you weren't actually doing anything but pretending there where possible legal ramifications...Were waiting until she turned eighteen to do the "wild thing".
So it's bullshit, good to know.I believe the argument for making "fake" CP illegal revolves around the idea that drawn or photoshopped CP will create a need or desire in the perverts watching it, so they'll look for the real thing. Basically it's drawn or photoshopped CP is similar to a "gateway drug".
Being able to hire a high priced lawyer... it's like magic.It's a wonder how Eminem hasn't been busted for the same thing.....