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Omaha Steve

(99,738 posts) Sat Apr 4, 2015, 04:58 PM Apr 2015

Mechanicville child pornographer gets lifetime sentence [View all]

Source: Times Union

By Brittany Horn

A Mechanicville man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison following his sentencing on Friday for sexually abusing and photographing two young girls under his care.

Robert V. McLaughlin, 58, received the maximum 60-year sentence for manipulating a 7-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl whom he babysat between 2012 and 2014 to engage in sexually explicit conduct so he could produce child pornography, according to court documents. Federal Judge Mae D'Agostino ruled that should McLaughlin ever be released from prison — which is unlikely given his age — he will be under supervised release for his lifetime.

One of the young girl's mothers begged the court to impose the greatest sentencing possible in a letter submitted by the prosecutor. She said that as a mother, she felt she had failed her daughter in the worst way possible by not seeing the abuse sooner and protecting her from McLaughlin.

"I don't want her to go through life looking over her shoulder wondering if she'll see him or run into him out in public, because this is something that she is very scared of," the mother said. "I want justice for my little girl. Please help me. I failed when I let down my guard at protecting her before, but you can protect her now."

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Mechanicville-child-pornographer-gets-lifetime-6179165.php

About F---ing time!!!

He is going to be so loved in prison. That is a prison taboo. It could have been their family!

108 replies

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Highlight:

Mechanicville child pornographer gets lifetime sentence [View all] Omaha Steve Apr 2015 OP

Waiting for some here to complain the sentence was "too harsh" FLPanhandle Apr 2015 #1

Someone will do exactly that. wryter2000 Apr 2015 #2

Hmmm I'm waiting for the hypocrites who claim to be anti death penalty to chime in cstanleytech Apr 2015 #3

if you can't be anti-death penalty in a hard case like this Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #8

"I'd acquit." Orrex Apr 2015 #14

justifiable Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #15

Justifiable how? Orrex Apr 2015 #17

Risk puts a limit on the latter Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #20

Regardless, you endorse vigilante murder Orrex Apr 2015 #65

You tell me Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #67

Not so fast Orrex Apr 2015 #71

When did I say "random stranger"? Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #73

Excuse me. You wrote "some private citizen" in repy #8. My mistake. Orrex Apr 2015 #75

Not so Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #77

Spare me. Orrex Apr 2015 #78

I'll spare you when you get it correct Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #79

Spare me. Orrex Apr 2015 #81

"There is no doubt as to the rapist." Aye, there's the rub. Stonepounder Apr 2015 #90

So you're not anti-death penalty then. NuclearDem Apr 2015 #22

you can interpret it that way if you please Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #24

Ah, so in addition to kinda-not-actually-anti-death penalty NuclearDem Apr 2015 #25

Not at all Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #33

No, clearly you don't. NuclearDem Apr 2015 #37

OK I will now treat you like you treat me Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #41

Ah, that nonsense again. NuclearDem Apr 2015 #43

I see you don't dispute the charge Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #46

The fuck? NuclearDem Apr 2015 #95

Maybe you didnt intend it but if you say that you would probably cstanleytech Apr 2015 #27

Nope, there's a clear distinction here Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #31

So your only against the death penalty if a jury makes the decision after a trial??? cstanleytech Apr 2015 #36

Nothing unusual about that Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #39

I agree with you, although I do support the death penalty 7962 Apr 2015 #42

The trouble with that rule Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #45

Now here one area I agree with you on and thats the immunity bit because cstanleytech Apr 2015 #50

No, no room for accidents. ncjustice80 Apr 2015 #92

I disagree, there just some things that a prosecutor cannot control and the universe is one of them. cstanleytech Apr 2015 #94

No there are plenty of cases where the "alleged" killer is known guilty at the start 7962 Apr 2015 #51

What assertion? Those were your words shooting your alleged anti death penalty stance cstanleytech Apr 2015 #48

false equivalence Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #55

Ok lets call it what it is then.....murder. Either you are for it or not simple as that. cstanleytech Apr 2015 #57

I am anti-death penalty.... awoke_in_2003 Apr 2015 #54

It can be tough to distinguish between a visceral, emotional reaction LanternWaste Apr 2015 #104

I am as cynical as they come, yet even I don't expect to see such defense for him here Dragonfli Apr 2015 #7

What do you mean "appropriate treatment from other prisoners," exactly? Scootaloo Apr 2015 #13

I would hope the other prisoners would make his life miserable FLPanhandle Apr 2015 #21

Hooray prison rape! NuclearDem Apr 2015 #23

You can shed some tears over him if you want FLPanhandle Apr 2015 #29

Oh that tired old canard. NuclearDem Apr 2015 #30

Child rapists deserve whatever they get FLPanhandle Apr 2015 #32

Being against rape means being against all forms of rape, against all victims. NuclearDem Apr 2015 #38

+1. You nailed him. Larry Engels Apr 2015 #49

In the case of child rapists, I have no sympathy FLPanhandle Apr 2015 #53

Neither will I. AngryDem001 Apr 2015 #59

If you want something done, you should do it yourself Scootaloo Apr 2015 #68

If it were my daughter, I would have no issue pulling the trigger FLPanhandle Apr 2015 #93

It's not sympathy for child rapists, it's disgust for someone advocating rape and torture Scootaloo Apr 2015 #98

so half-witted as to be unable to determine the difference between sympathy for a rapist and the jus LanternWaste Apr 2015 #105

I am against the death penalty BrotherIvan Apr 2015 #69

Sorry, not a fan of extra-judicial punishment... blackspade Apr 2015 #97

Life in prison sounds good to me... Helen Borg Apr 2015 #4

Life prison term is too harsh. It is cruel and unusual. Hoppy Apr 2015 #5

Put him in with the regular prisoners bluestateguy Apr 2015 #6

+1 appalachiablue Apr 2015 #12

Here, here! AngryDem001 Apr 2015 #60

Yay for prison violence. Codeine Apr 2015 #91

Post removed Post removed Apr 2015 #9

He will NOT have a good experience in prison. Good. 7962 Apr 2015 #10

I hope you are right. 840high Apr 2015 #11

I can't help but wonder, what kind of mother thinks it's okay to have a middle-aged man babysit scarletwoman Apr 2015 #16

That's probably the most bluntly sexist post I've read on DU all day. Orrex Apr 2015 #19

Be that as it may, I won't apologize. scarletwoman Apr 2015 #28

I'm with you. I've never heard of non-family male babysitters at that age 7962 Apr 2015 #40

Thank you. As I said, I don't know the backstory. scarletwoman Apr 2015 #44

An equally sexist post about women would rightly have been hidden Orrex Apr 2015 #63

Whatever. Or maybe it's because males are far more often the offenders, scarletwoman Apr 2015 #66

Statistically it's bullshit Orrex Apr 2015 #70

Okay, I'm a sexist. Happy now? scarletwoman Apr 2015 #74

Happy? No. I would prefer it if you weren't sexist Orrex Apr 2015 #76

Oh, by the way... scarletwoman Apr 2015 #84

It's admirable that you can admit the deficiencies in your character Orrex Apr 2015 #85

LOL nt scarletwoman Apr 2015 #87

This message was self-deleted by its author ncjustice80 Apr 2015 #101

Then perhaps you can help me. Orrex Apr 2015 #103

Id call it a teachable moment for him. ncjustice80 Apr 2015 #106

Of course, that's a dodge rather than an answer. Orrex Apr 2015 #107

I have to think "all day" is a bit of understatement, BobTheSubgenius Apr 2015 #35

You did know that there are some women who molest children as well? cstanleytech Apr 2015 #34

However, it WAS a man in this case, which is why I'd like to know the backstory. scarletwoman Apr 2015 #47

Why in the world would it not be ok to have A "middle-aged man babysit"? uppityperson Apr 2015 #56

If it were my own father, or my own brother, or my own son, I could see it - as long as I actually scarletwoman Apr 2015 #58

She fessed up that she failed and she did yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #64

Yes, I read that. But how and why did she pick THIS particular guy to "babysit"? scarletwoman Apr 2015 #72

You do know that there are female pedophiles, yes? AngryDem001 Apr 2015 #61

Fine. Please tell me what percentage of pedophiles are females vs. males. nt scarletwoman Apr 2015 #62

Percentages are irrelevant. AngryDem001 Apr 2015 #88

This message was self-deleted by its author ncjustice80 Apr 2015 #102

With our srewed up justice system project_bluebook Apr 2015 #18

You can bet your life it's a BIG prison taboo. Literally. BobTheSubgenius Apr 2015 #26

The murderers and robbers get all huffy about the child molesters. Larry Engels Apr 2015 #52

Lots of prison rape fantasies in this thread alcibiades_mystery Apr 2015 #86

Yes. Larry Engels Apr 2015 #96

Here ya go, Larry: Prison Is 'Living Hell' for Pedophiles Zorra Apr 2015 #99

Thanks for the link. Larry Engels Apr 2015 #100

If only as a society this 58 yr old would not have fallen through the cracks for help. First as an Sunlei Apr 2015 #80

More than 10 years ago, here, a man in his 70's committed suicide the night before his trial SharonAnn Apr 2015 #82

Increadably sad to know every child contact in his 'age range' was abused in some way. Sunlei Apr 2015 #83

Post removed Post removed Apr 2015 #89

I love it! (no text) Quantess Apr 2015 #108