Posted on 08/02/2010 7:07:29 PM PDT by JoeProBono
That’s a different situation... What if it was LEGAL to drive 87 MPH in Missouri? Would North Carolina then fine you and suspend your license for NOT breaking the law in Missouri?
Think about Montana a good 10 years ago - no speed limits on the highways. You could drive 100+ MPH, blow by a trooper, and be fine - you didn’t break the law. Should Colorado or North Carolina or Idaho issue you a ticket and suspend your license for driving LEGALLY in Montana?
That’s what this is about...
Polanski broke the law here in the US, so is rightfully being charged in the US.
What about 19 year old college kids going to Canada or Mexico to drink - should the US prosecute them for LEGALLY drinking outside the US borders?
Ha!
Now imagine what would happen if all these people being arrested for exercising their right to keep and bear arms were able to push for the death-penalty for their oppressors.
Oh, but I forgot... the government can pick-and-choose what laws to enforce.
[/cynic]
Hell froze over... I think we totally agree on this corrupt police state nonsense.
I guess the new standard is that if you are an American, you must obey all American laws, even if in another country.
So how does that work? Does someone from Holland get to smoke hash in New York? LOL
See post 27
The guy is obviously most likely vermin if guilty. However, the trial should have been in Thailand.
Also he gets 10 years then gets tried again to get 25 years? I do not know what a “fair” sentence is but they held another trial because they did not like the penalty?
I mean if they guy did what they say he did and the case was strong then a firing squad in Thailand would probably work for me. 2 expensive trials in Calif to keep the lawyers billing lots of hours??
And it is not like this crap does not happen daily in Calif huge porn industry and in Hollywood. If he is a director or Palm BEach hedge fund manager who is friendly with Democrats - he could get away with it.
Thanks
The US Government has long been extending its laws overseas, and this is just the latest nightmare...
For example, since I work and live predominantly in China, I have to pay Chinese income tax. Of course, I get to pay US income taxes as well, even though I earn nothing inside the US. Uncle Sam wants his cut of your income no matter where you make it, anywhere in the world.
I guess the US Federal Government now reserves the right to dictate your behavior anywhere, at any time.
The two trials thing is disturbing... it sounds like a blatant violation of the 5th amendment’s “double jeopardy” clause.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208800,00.html
Steven Erik Prowler was deported from Thailand in May [2006] after completing one-year prison sentence for molesting 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys.
According to a U.S. criminal complaint, he told authorities he often paid Thai children the equivalent of $5 for two hours of sexual contact.
The charges were brought under the U.S. Child Protect Act, adopted in 2003 to facilitate tracking sexual predators across international borders.
By that map, looks like it’s 12 in meheeko. No wonder there’s so many illegals getting busted for it here. They probably never heard of our higher age requirements.
18 U.S.C. § 2423(c) prohibits an American citizen or national engaging in illicit sexual conduct outside the United States and carries a 30 year maximum sentence.
The question is, what is the definition of illicit sexual conduct? Consensual sex with a 17 year old in Thailand is completely legal there, it is not illicit. Only when you extend the laws of the US extra-territorially do you get this kind of travesty of justice.
Consider how this can be used by a corrupt, ideologically driven Administration like we now have. Government is getting long arms to drag you down wherever you may be...
I could not agree more. We are becoming a post modern, post christian, fascist police state, were every subject is a criminal unless they have the money to buy themselves out of it.
The end isn’t near, it’s here and passing us by and we’re too busy to even notice it.
Agree with your point, that the behavior of the guy is repulsive, immoral and he deserves it.
But also agree, it’s a weird law. Perhaps the key is that, by traveling specifically to do something which is illegal in the US, a sort of conspiracy or intent happens - on US soil.
So, traveling to Amsterdam specifically to smoke dope in a coffee shop might, by the same legal principle, also be illegal.
Think about those “catch a predator” sting shows. Creepily the guys show up after internet chatting with someone pretending to be a minor - intending to meet the teenie bopper - and are promptly carted away by police. Not for actually engaging in such behavior with a juvenile. But for *intending* to do so.
I know it’s a fine distinction, but this poster would think, that’s the legal principle at work with the law the guy was charged under.
Hard to argue with what happened to the guy though.
I mean. Some things are just plain wrong.
Also: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1400433/posts
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police have arrested a 56-year-old American teacher after 500 photographs of naked teenagers were allegedly found during a raid of his Bangkok apartment, police said on Tuesday.
Police said the man, who they named as Steven Erik Prowler, had lived in Thailand for six years and taught English at a government school in Bangkok.
“During the raid, we found two teenagers who said they just had oral sex with him,” Colonel Surat Udomrat told Reuters. The two were aged 15 and 17, police said.
In the apartment police said they found 500 postcard-sized photos of naked male teenagers, mostly Thais aged between 11 and 17. They also found journals detailing his alleged sexual exploits.
Police said they planned to file charges of sexually abusing underaged youths against the man later this week.
“Although the maximum penalty is 10 years in jail for each count, he has repeated his crime with hundreds of victims and these crimes would add up,” Lt. Colonel Dhamnoon Munkong said.
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok declined to comment on the case.
That might be the case... But then you should have to prove that the intent of the travel was for illegal purposes.
This just reeks of unconstitutionality. Being held to US laws while outside the territories of the US basically means that the US Federal Government has jurisdictions over you no matter where you are. You’re no longer a citizen, but a subject...
All I can say is, I deny ever having tried betel nut - and besides not having ever done so, the statute of limitation for any such nonexistent behavior, is long expired from the time it did not happen. :)
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