"Dateline" Judged by Jury

226. to the people who say "he didnt go thru w/it",,,,the guys who were gonna attack ft dix didnt get to go thru w/it,should they get off easy too?? the guy was a lawyer so he absolutely knew what he was doing was wrong and he got caught.waahhhhh,he killed himself,,GOOD they shouldnt get a dime for this but somehow I bet they do in this messed up country.

Posted at 1:35PM on Feb 29th 2008 by rick head

227. MissMiss: "One bullet for each" is a violent fantasy. "these reporters should be given firearms and allowed to fire at will" is a violent fantasy. I'm really sorry that you have to make me an enemy simply because I am appalled at violence even when directed at a socially acceptable target.
God doesn't protect my children from child molesters, I do, by providing them with the tools--to recognize when an adult is making them uncomfortable and the self-esteem to stand up for themselves--even to authority figures. I do not believe that it is "normal" to express the desire to kill and harm other human beings, even the lowliest and most vile. YOU frighten me as much as the lowest and perverted of of men.

Posted at 3:29PM on Feb 27th 2008 by anonymous

228. #202 Nicole...I'm not surprised that there are some on this post who seem to be rationalizing somehow that the guy did nothing wrong and are defending him....his intent was clear. Our neighborhood learned a couple of years ago that a convicted child molester who molested a 7 year old child at a playground had moved into our neighborhood...right next door to house with small children. None of us were notified of this. We only found out thru another neighbor who had watched the Oprah Winfrey Show where it was recommeded that people could go online and check to see where child molester's were living in ones community. We were stunned to learn that this man was living next door to a family with small children. Needless to say, he decided to rent out his house after our neighborhood watch group got together with his wife there to assure him that we would be watching him closely. Once someone hurts an innocent little human being there is no room for redemption. Sorry to those who are defensive. Children put their trust in us adults. When we betray that trust there is no getting it back---ever. And the damage has been done. These poor kids who have had their innocence ripped away will certainly never forget.

Posted at 3:50PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Debbie/grandmother

229. Given that the police arrived at his home to arrest him may reveal that there is something they know that we don't. What did he do on the internet chat? Had he done this before? There is much we don't know. What we do know is that 3,000,000 children are sexually abused every year. And those are only the reported cases. One in 20 males sexually abuse children. 52% of offenders repeat their crime. The recidivism rate reveals that 20% of convicted offenders offend again within 2 years. Who was this man? Why was he on the computer in the first place with someone who he thought was a child. We don't know the facts here. But the police did when they went to his home to arrest him. I do agree that having the press there was not a good thing...why did they need to be there? But I thank the Chris Hanson's of the world who play a part in catching these predators of children...they are beyond reprehensable!

Posted at 5:05PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Debbie/grandmother

230. When I can called to the witness stand and asked to identify myself, I will say "I'm Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC"

Posted at 6:20PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Chris Hansen

231. HE CANT HANDLE THE FACT THAT HE IS A PERVERT? SO HE OFFS HIMSELF, GOOD NOW WE DONT HAVE TO PAY TO KEEP HIM IN PRISON. AND NOW OTHER GIRLS ARE SAFE FROM HIM. IF THIS LAWSUIT GOES THRU, IT SENDS A BAD MESSAGE TO PERVERTS... LIKE HEY YOUR PROTECTED...
WE NEED TO KILL THEM ALL OFF... THINK HOW MUCH IT WOULD SAVE THE TAX PAYERS...

Posted at 5:27PM on Feb 27th 2008 by DEENANNA

232. To Catch a Predator once again lived up to its name. BTW this show wouldn't exist if it wasn't for pedophiles like the DA so you can hardly blame the show.

Also, this was a DA who knew his own guilt, and knew the law, and decided to take matters into his own gun filled hands. He should know better than anyone and he became his own judge and jury. I'm ok with that.

Posted at 5:32PM on Feb 27th 2008 by good call DA

233. To #204 Cynic, up until 2 years ago I lived within 8 miles of Atascadero State Hospital and you are so right. There is no cure for those SOB's, they need to be locked up forever! Theodore frank, the SOB who murdered little Amy Sue had his psychiatrist convinced he would never touch another child...another bleeding heart liberal no doubt. I lived not 5 miles from where Amy Sue was taken from and the entire community searched for her to no avail. I will never ever be convinced that pedophiles can be helped. They speak of chemical castration....if a pedophile is going to harm a child it doesn't matter whether he has his sexual organs or not! I have no sympathy for the idiot who killed himself. His sister is either blind or greedy. I hope she gets nothing or if there is an award that is is made to an organization to help the victims of her brother. I am sure he left many victims out there before he got caught. And you know what gets me, Theodore Frank had a wife! He had a record for 25 years of child molestation and rape, and he has a wife! Disgusting!

Posted at 9:34PM on Feb 27th 2008 by completely disgusted

234. If it had been my child the perv was trying to hook-up with he wouldn't have had to commit suicide.

We need stronger enforcement of the laws to protect the true victims, not the adult men who know better.

Posted at 9:30PM on Feb 27th 2008 by singleparent2

235. Wahoo! Finally one of these useless dirtbags that realizes he's an oxygen thief and saves we taxpayers a whole lotta money.

Posted at 4:14AM on Feb 28th 2008 by Mom of Three

236. Please give me a break! This guy was a perv & hey, he got what he deserved by his own hand!

Posted at 10:11AM on Feb 28th 2008 by Tawnya

237. Did anyone actually read the order? While I certainly don't condone pedophilia, I think the judge ruled correctly.
First, the standard of review favors plaintiffs. In ruling on a motion to dismiss, the judge must accept all allegations of the complaint, and reasonable inferences derived therefrom as true. A complaint will only be dismissed if, accepting the allegations as true, the plaintiff has failed to show a plausible cause of action. The judge here dismissed all but 2 of the nine causes of action.

The order is 40 pages long and pretty detailed, but in summary, the judge found that the plaintiff has set forth sufficient facts to show a plausible claim that NBC may have violated the deceased’s rights. For example, our Supreme Court has held that the media’s over involvement in a law enforcement investigation can violated the Fourth Amendment. The judge here also found that there was a plausible claim that NBC acted in a manner that was so outrageous, it will not be tolerated by a civilized society. [And contrary to 206's comments about “damaged reputation claim”, there was no such cause of action in the amended complaint and I don’t know what he/she means regarding a “preponderance claim on the suicide.” Preponderance of the evidence is the level of proof applicable to certain causes of action, but it is not a claim or cause of action itself].

While the deceased, as an alleged pedophile, is certainly not a sympathetic figure here, that doesn’t mean that NBC’s actions were appropriate or lawful. And all citizens, under our constitution, are afforded civil rights and due process.

While I can’t imagine a jury awarding a large amount of damages in this case, I am interested to see how the case progresses.

Oh, and as to #202's comments, I am NOT defending Conradt’s actions and I certainly do NOT have child porn (or any porn for that matter) on my computer. My interest is solely on whether NBC has acted outside the law.

Posted at 10:33AM on Feb 28th 2008 by J.D.

238. OK... He killed himself because he was a coward, and couldn't accept what a sick person he was... it is that he couldn't face the public once they found out he was TRYING TO HAVE SEX WITH A 13YEAR OLD BOY............... He got what he deserved, and actually it was the easy way out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like his sister is just as SICK IN THE HEAD.... her brother was praying on young boys, and she wants to get paid?????????????????? SICK SICK SICK SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:52PM on Feb 28th 2008 by Karilee

239. Actually, rumor had it that Conradt was a deep-in-the-closet homosexual. Perhaps he didn't want to be outed in such a way. And the initial police investigation did turn up a picture of a naked adult man.

Posted at 1:33PM on Feb 28th 2008 by Terrell resident

240. Thanks for the great info

Posted at 6:47PM on Mar 1st 2008 by Paris