Burglar finds child sex abuse on tapes he took, so he points out suspect, police say

[RonPaulFanInGA]

http://us.cnn.com/2013/12/19/world/e...d-pornography/

If you doubt there's an unwritten code of honor among criminals -- governing certain behavior that's just not permitted -- consider this:

Police say a burglar in southern Spain who stole an old Super 8 camera and tapes from a home discovered to his horror the graphic video content of a man sexually abusing boys.

The burglar put three tapes in a brown envelope, hid them under a parked car, and then called police from a public phone, directing them to go find it.

Inside the envelope, police found a note with the home address of the suspected pedophile and a message from the burglar:

"I've had the misfortune that these tapes have fallen into my hands and I feel obligated to turn them in so that you can do your job and put that (expletive) in prison for life."

Spanish national police confirmed Thursday they arrested a 64-year-old suspected child molester this week at his home -- the one that had been burglarized -- in the southern provincial capital of Jaen.

[Intoxiklown]

Thanks for this post. Though it may sound odd, this thief who robbed someone has somewhat helped restore some faith in humanity.

[Anti-Neocon]

They both deserve to be in jail.

[Icymudpuppy]

Child molesters and Rapists do not fair well in prison, and usually have to be kept separate from general population or they will be killed.

[Occam's Banana]

If you doubt there's an unwritten code of honor among criminals -- governing certain behavior that's just not permitted -- consider this:

OK. I've considered it. And I still doubt there is any "unwritten code of honor among criminals" ...

[pcosmar]

OK. I've considered it. And I still doubt there is any "unwritten code of honor among criminals" ...

There is no honor among thieves,, but snitching is always frowned upon. In this case, it is justified.

[Occam's Banana]

There is no honor among thieves,, but snitching is always frowned upon. In this case, it is justified.

The "no snitching" thing isn't really a matter of mutual respect or "honor," though (which is what the article implied).
It's just an expression of self-interest/preservation.

[CaptUSA]

If this was in the US, I'd be thinking this was a cop that didn't want to go through the hassle of trying to get a warrant.

I don't know Spain's evidence laws, but you'd think a good lawyer would be able to get this evidence thrown out here, along with any evidence that was gained due to the opening of the brown envelope.

Think about how much damage would have been done by this thief in that case.

[Grubb556]

Please let's not give the cops the idea of burglarizing our homes to get evidence.

[libertarianMoney]

"If you doubt there's an unwritten code of honor among criminals -- governing certain behavior that's just not permitted --"

This has nothing to do with criminals. This is what normal people do.
I understand how CNN would fail to understand that.

[enhanced_deficit]

Originally Posted by CNN
If you doubt there's an unwritten code of honor among criminals -- governing certain behavior that's just not permitted...

Child molesters and Rapists do not fair well in prison, and usually have to be kept separate from general population or they will be killed.

By extension, is there any similar unwritten code of honor among war criminals whereby child killers do not fare well in prisons housing them?

Although the question is being raised in the context of alleged droning of children by suspected drone king, it is a general question.

Guess the underlying question is, who is worse morally, a child killer and a child molester? Is US public more likely to tolerate a child killer or a child molester in the White House? Or it would depend on the race of the child in such a scenario?

General questions not addressed to anyone in particular.


Edit: To avoid risk of derailing this thread, I have started separate thread on the question in this post.

[dillo]

Child Molestors generally do not fair well in prison because they are generally weak people, hence why they prey on children. The weak get killed/raped/beaten in prison, not just child molestors

[PRB]

Criminals are the best rats, duh

[paulbot24]

Hell I would have done that just to get rid of it. I'd rather have a smoking gun in my hand than anything like that on my person.

[aGameOfThrones]

If this was in the US, I'd be thinking this was a cop that didn't want to go through the hassle of trying to get a warrant.

I don't know Spain's evidence laws, but you'd think a good lawyer would be able to get this evidence thrown out here, along with any evidence that was gained due to the opening of the brown envelope.

Think about how much damage would have been done by this thief in that case.

I think there is a similar story from the U.S that happened not too long ago. I think it was dvds, not sure.

[tangent4ronpaul]

If this was in the US, I'd be thinking this was a cop that didn't want to go through the hassle of trying to get a warrant.

I don't know Spain's evidence laws, but you'd think a good lawyer would be able to get this evidence thrown out here, along with any evidence that was gained due to the opening of the brown envelope.

Think about how much damage would have been done by this thief in that case.

Don't know Spain's laws either, but the two phrases that came to mind were:

"chain of custody" (evidence - I mean left under a car? - really?)
and
"fruit of the poisonous tree"

I'm guessing this crook just earned himself an arrest warrant and gvmt paid vacation, while at the same time giving the child molester a get out of jail free card.

-t

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Ultimately, it probably comes down to what police found in his home after the arrest. If they found nothing, his lawyer can just say "where's your proof it was stolen from his home, specifically", but if they arrested him and found a bunch more of this stuff in his home, he's screwed.