Most developmental psychologists would agree that a person who is sexually attracted to children has a problem of some sort. Healthy, well-adjusted adults are attracted to other adults, not minors, so someone who has a prurient interest in children probably needs help or special attention to overcome this aberrance. It is a sad occasion whenever someone does not receive that help.
A 29-year-old man recently entered a not guilty plea in Los Angeles court after being charged with child pornography-linked offenses. The man, who used to work as a middle school teacher, allegedly exchanged sexually explicit pictures and messages with four underage victims. He has also been accused of traveling 180 miles to have sex with one of the minors.
Authorities, including the FBI, say the man pretended to be a 15-year-old boy online. He is facing give felony charges and could serve a life sentence in prison if he is convicted of all of them.
The man's trial is May 1.
Regardless of whether he is innocent, we hope that this man has had a chance to work closely with a criminal defense attorney and that he understands his options and how the trial will proceed. Those are things every criminal defendant is entitled to. Sometimes, people are very willing to prematurely convict a person because they are so disgusted or horrified by what he or she is accused of doing, but jumping the gun like that is wrong. We cannot presume a person is guilty before he or she has had his or her day in court.
Source: The San Jose Mercury News, "Former teacher pleads not guilty to child porn," April 2, 2012
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