Why is there such a rush to "Nancy Grace" type justice here?

[madinmaryland]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1985180

I realize that people (as I am too) are disgusted by what this man is alleged to have done, but there is a principal in this country that says "innocent until proven guilty". Unfortunately this man is dead, but has already (prior to this happening) been convicted in the arena of DU opinion.

:shrug:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Some people are very insecure.

Acting like Nancy Grace makes them feel macho.

[WinkyDink]

19. Yeah, especially when the perp himself speaks of his intended (and past) crimes.

[emilyg]

2. He admitted to having done it before.

[madinmaryland]

4. I haven't seen that. Do you have a link?

[terisan]

18. So far we only know that he supposedly told his contact that. True or not? We do not know.

So far law enforcement in Florida says there is no evidence there are any victims.

Possibly there will be more news.

[Orsino]

26. Only in order to get what he wanted, it seems.

Rather than an "admission," this should be filed as a story told by a rather untrustworthy source.

The biggest tragedy of his death may be that further investigation will halt, and we may never be able to locate and help the children he may have harmed.

I'm trying to leave some room for the possibility that law enforcement's tale isn't quite as clear-cut as they'd have us believe. If even some of that evidence turns out to be bogus, my whole opinion of the matter is due for a change.

[quiet.american]

3. You may have a point, but in this case, his own words were very damning.

According to court records, Atchison initiated an online chat Aug. 29 with an undercover officer posing as a mother interested in letting men have sex with her daughter.

At one point, Atchison said: "I'm always gentle and loving; not to worry; no damage ever; no rough stuff ever ever," according to an affidavit filed in court.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8RNHI7G5&show_article=1&image=large

[madinmaryland]

5. Yes, his words are very disturbing.

I don't know the whole story and probably never will.

[Kagemusha]

6. I don't think suicide makes you innocent for eternity either.

Some people obviously think that's better, or they wouldn't commit it, but in cases where a defendant committed the crime but is not "guilty," he's robbing people of justice.

I didn't comment on that thread though. I want a principled stance, so I don't cheer-lead as a rule.

[Ghost in the Machine]

7. *ahem*

Republican U.S. Justice Department official John David R. Atchison, 53, an assistant U.S. attorney from the northern district of Florida, has been arrested on suspicion of traveling to Detroit over the weekend to have sex with a 5 year old child. An undercover officer posed as a mother offering her child to Atchison for sex, according to police. In deposition, detectives said Atchison suggested the mother tell her daughter that "you found her a sweet boyfriend who will bring her presents." The undercover detective expressed concern about physical injury to the 5-year-old girl as a result of the sexual activity. Detectives said Atchison responded, " I am always gentle and loving; not to worry, no damage ever, no rough stuff ever. I only like it soft and nice." The undercover detective asked how Atchison can be certain of no injury. He responded, "Just gotta go slow and very easy. I've done it plenty," according to detectives.

http://www.republicansexoffenders.com/



Atchison had been communicating with an undercover sheriff's detective from Macomb County, Mich., who was posing online as the fictitious girl's mother and arranged for him to have sex with the child, police said.

He was arrested carrying presents for her, including a doll and earrings, and sexual materials, officials said.

http://www.local6.com/news/14279166/detail.html

[quiet.american]

10. "I've done it plenty...," dear Lord. To whom? Or was that wishful thinking on his part? Good Lord.nt

[cali]

8. Innocent until proven guilty is a legal principle

not one that's imposed on the society at large. We're free to express our opinions based on newspaper articles or whatever. I'm not going to defend this guy for a moment. The evidence against him was damning. And though I feel for his family, I haven't a moment of pity for him.

[H2O Man]

23. Exactly right.

"Innocent until proven guilty" refers to the treatment that a person who is suspected of a crime is entitled to, including at the time they are arrested, and in any/all court proceedings.

[DefenseLawyer]

9. Righteous indignation

makes us collectively feel better about ourselves. When we encounter the worst among us we can say "I am a better person than him". It's very easy to do with the "scumbags" of the world. Of course in reality it doesn't make us any better or make their existence any less frequent. The more frightening aspect of this mindset is it seems to justify the most brutal and vicious inclinations "burn him alive" "chop him in little pieces" "let other prisoners sodomize and murder him". Normally we would wonder about the sanity of someone with such sadistic aspirations, but when it is unleashed toward a scumbag, it just shows that the sadist is one of us good guys.

[quiet.american]

12. Spoken like a true "Rumpole of the Bailey." :) n/t

[madinmaryland]

14. Yes.

I guess I am amazed how we here at DU fall into the same trap they do at other sites that we mock here. I was trying to point that out, though I am not the best writer.

[Blue-Jay]

20. It's good to point out and define "rightreous indignation".

It's seen so rarely on DU, people might forget what it is.

:rofl:

[terisan]

21. Agreed., I always consider the pyschological concept of projection when I hear the righteous mob

[liberalmuse]

11. Guilty.

I likely set the tone of the thread by being the first to post. Nothing has disturbed me so much as that man's disgusting words to the undercover officer. Anyone who would fly to another city in order to sexually assault a child and act as if it were the most natural thing in the world is utterly vile. "I'll be gentle with her." The mind boggles. And a father, no less, who has claimed he's done this many times before. I have compassion, but not for monsters like that.

[madinmaryland]

13. Unfortunately we will never be able to definatively determine that he is

guilty. I agree that the comments he "made" are extremely disturbing. I would just like to have seen him convicted by a jury of his peers, and finalize the judgement.

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. He acted as his own judge, jury and executioner. Innocent people

just don't kill themselves. Not in my experience, anyways.

[terisan]

16. Innocent people do kill themselves. Suicide is an admission of pain not necessarily guilt. nt

[Bluebear]

24. 'Innocent people just don't kill themselves.' - well, yes, that has happened.

[Ghost in the Machine]

25. Hence the "not in *my* experience anyways"...

We experienced this in my family a couple of years ago. I've had some long talks with people who have experienced it also. We've discussed the different motivating factors behind a suicide and just can't seem to wrap our heads around the argument that someone innocent of these charges would kill himself if he was in fact innocent.

I've heard all of the arguments that "his life was ruined anyways, even if he was innocent.. blah blah blah"... and I don't buy it. As abhorrent as it is, if I was ever accused and knew in my heart that I was 100% innocent I would be screaming it from the rooftops trying to clear my name. Once I was proven innocent in a court of law, I would hold my head high and continue living my life as normally as it was before.

I'll stick by my statement: "He acted as his own judge, jury & executioner"....

Others may disagree, and that's their right if they want to, but the facts bear this one out.

I hate what his family is going through right now, but do you know what's going to be interesting to see? I'm really wondering if his wife will receive his body and hold a funeral for him. I wonder what kind of, if any, conversations he had with her from his cell. I wonder what he told her his reasons for having to go out of town were that weekend?

How would you feel and what would you do if this was *your* spouse/partner?

[terisan]

17. DU posters can unfortunately be just like Free Republic. Thank you. We know only one side of story.

[Ghost in the Machine]

22. Yes, your reply is proof positive too. In the same fashion as a free republic poster

you just post away totally oblivious to, and unfazed by, FACTS.

FACT: He was a married father of 3 who lived in Florida.

FACT: He made contact with a woman who was offering her FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD up for sexual pleasures.

FACT: He showed up at the airport in the same city and state that the woman and child lived in carrying a doll, jewelry and sex toys.

FACT: He was a pedophile and the world is a better place without him.

FACT: Apologists for these scumbags make me sick to my stomach.

[terisan]

27. The "facts" you mention are charges to be decided in court. We operate under rule of law.

I am an American citizen and I take the responsibility of citizenship very seriously. Read the Bill of Rights before attacking citizens who choose to abide by the rule of law.

If I decide before presentation of evidence from the accuser and accused I would not be able to serve on on jury to decide guilt or innocence. If you have already determined his guilt you would have to state that in court and would be unlikely to be able to serve on a jury to determine guilt or innocence.

I do not automatically believe statements posted in media nor do I automatically believe statements made by law enforcement personnel. If I and everyone else did so, we would be able to simply watch television and declare justice is done based upon what is reported by media as fact or we could simply have jurors read police reports and then decide guilt or innocence.

I am also an unapologetic believer in the statements of Jesus Christ as reported in the Four Gospels of the new Testament. I find that by reading these statements about making judgement and those about the two commandments that supercede all others, I am able to deal with my anger about crime and evil events and occurences or attempts of evil actions in the world, and focus on taking action to prevent the same.

I recommend these to you because I believe that if people can move beyond getting sick to their stomachs over crime and attempted crime, we can elimate most crime.

In any case I intend to continue to adhere to the Bill of Rights and the statements of Jesus Christ on Crime and Love, no matter how much you may choose to verbally attack me.