'Operation Candyman' targets child porn

Associated Press ^ | March 18, 2002 | A/P Staff

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They have that. They couldn't get a judge to accept the charges without it.

One would hope that to be the case. There have been cases, however, when prosecutors have tried to nail people for possessing items they could not possibly have known they had. Such cases get thrown out, but not until after the victim has had to spend thousands of dollars in unreimbursable legal expenses.

Given that, as you say, the real pedophiles usually leave plenty of evidence of their activities, I see nothing wrong with insisting upon a mens rea requirement. To do otherwise is to give government personnel an overly powerful weapon they can use at will against anyone who poses an inconvenience or threat to them.