Ex-UN inspector Scott Ritter gets prison in Pa. sex case

[n2doc]

STROUDSBURG, Pa. — A former United Nations weapons inspector convicted in an online sex sting has been sentenced to up to 5 1/2 years behind bars.


Fifty-year-old Scott Ritter exchanged explicit messages with a detective posing as a 15-year-old girl, then performed a sex act on himself in front of a webcam.

He testified in his own defense that he believed the person he met in a Yahoo chat room in 2009 was an adult acting out her own fantasy.

But a northeastern Pennsylvania jury convicted Ritter in April. On Wednesday, a Monroe County judge sentenced him to 18 months to 66 months in state prison.

Ritter was taken into custody immediately.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45053168/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#.TqijqWBxudw

[occupyeverywhere]

1. Sounds like entrapment

[bigtree]

for an idiot, maybe

Ritter seemed sharper than that . . . very sad.

[occupyeverywhere]

14. I guess, certainly he would have known he was being heavily monitored.

stupid move, but police reports can be overly exaggerated.

[dionysus]

6. this was the second time.. he walked on a similar case if i recall....

[MADem]

9. 2001 in NY, 2009 in PA...no, he's a perv. nt

[msanthrope]

83. Twice in NY, once in PA. He is a perv. nt

[MADem]

85. Ewww--I stand corrected...TWICE in NY? He deserves a stint in jail. Perv indeed. nt

[msanthrope]

87. Two incidents in NY in 2001. In April, he was detained, not arrested. Then in June, arrested.

I have no doubt that there are other incidents he wasn't arrested on.

[msanthrope]

82. They entrapped his ass three times???? Not bloody likely.

This is Mr. Ritter's THIRD known bite at the friggin' apple. I wonder what he didn't get caught for.

[SidDithers]

123. He was trapped three times?...nt

Sid

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Wow. This has just now gone to trial? Talk about a SLOW system.

Sheesh. I was hoping he was innocent.

[MADem]

4. This isn't the McDonald's case--this is a different one entirely. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. He was caught TWICE doing the same thing? n/t

[MADem]

19. Yes. In 2001, in NY, he arranged to meet a teen a McDonald's, and was met by the cops.

He wiggled out of that one.

In this one, he webcammed with a detective pretending to be a fifteen year old, and performed a sex act on camera (stupid fool).

The first one was 2001 under Bushco, the second one was just two years ago, well after Obama took office, in PA.

He's a perv who likes teen girls. Shame on him. He should have gotten help the first time round. Lock up your daughters!

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. Holy crap. The 2001 case is the one I was thinking about. I hadno clue

he was stupid enough to do it again. My G-d. What an idiot.

[msanthrope]

84. THREE TIMES. Three frackin' times. Twice in NY, once in PA.

He got the book thrown at him and he deserved it.

[Major Hogwash]

96. He was accused 3 times. Oh muh gawd!!! He'd be accused again, until they can get a friendly jury.

Pennsylvania!!
Santorum Country!!

Why didn't I guess it to begin with!!
I should've known.

[msanthrope]

103. He admitted his guilt, and is getting sex offender treatment. He testified to this.

This article details his admitting his guilt----

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php

[Major Hogwash]

108. No, he did not.

You can say that 5 more times, it still doesn't make it true.

[msanthrope]

114. "Before it was handed down, Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions."

"Before it was handed down, Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson, Rakaczewski said. Defense lawyers asked that their client be given community-based supervision, basically probation, the prosecutor said."
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwyvnrHt


He also testified that the NY cases happened--


When the Colonie sting came up at his trial, Ritter testified that he knew cops were on the other end, and he wanted to get caught, realizing he had a problem and couldn't help himself, Rakaczweski said.


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwyvnrHt

[Major Hogwash]

117. Do you have anything else besides that 1 cut and paste job of yours?

That you have used to spam this thread with?

[msanthrope]

119. If Ritter isn't disputing that he has a problem, why are you?? nt

[dionysus]

7. he walked on that case, this is a new one.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. What a fucking idiot! Thanks. n/t

[MADem]

3. I'm sorry, this guy has a PROBLEM.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

He's been busted before on these sorts of charges. Eons ago, he was hooking up with a teen at McDonald's.

He has a thing for teenaged girls. ICK. He should have gotten some help after he dodged the bullet the last time.

[customerserviceguy]

79. He'll get some help

From his roommate.

[Juche]

80. I think the cops let him go the first time

I think the first time the cops just let him go with a warning when they found out who he is. This is at least the 3rd time he has been caught doing this. I hope he does get help though.

[redqueen]

124. Many men would argue

that the only problem is that the age of consent is too high. The moat popular porn on the net is the teen/barely legal trash.

[MADem]

126. How unfortunate that anyone would even want to make that argument.

I guess they don't have daughters. I really can't understand this guy--he has daughters of his own. What's up with that? Has he no ability to relate his behavior to them?

And clearly, he either didn't bother to "get help" after the first few dust-ups, or it didn't take.

I'm on the side of the "Lock up your daughters" crew when it comes to that guy.

He's sure managed to completely disgrace his family.

[redqueen]

130. It's to be expected really.

Youth is fairly worshipped in the media... images of hypersexualized teen girls are commonplace. And going by the age of consent laws set in other countries, well... obviously men around the world would seem to agree with those making that argument.

It's most definitely an unfortunate situation, I agree. But the majority of these men all around the world have daughters, too... so I'm not sure that's quite the enlightener it probably should be.

[MADem]

131. I know--I find it particularly horrifying when I see little five year olds

in spangles with inappropriate comments on their t-shirts and wearing outfits that a stripper might find a bit unseemly. The indoctrination starts early.

[redqueen]

134. "The indoctrination starts early."

Indeed it does. The fact that mothers assist with this indoctrination shows how very deeply embedded this kind of crap is. As the minority group, women usually absorb the dominant group's message and accept it as their own.

It will be so very hard to change this... but I think it's a battle worth fighting.

[MADem]

137. I agree. I won't be satisfied until the House of Representatives

is truly representative--and we need way more female representation to counteract the uncompromising testosterone-fueled bullshit that comes out of the Old Boy's Club.

The more good role models, the better, I say!

[seabeyond]

133. it is cause little girls are young, inexperienced and stupid (cause they are so young)

and an older man can get away (and older woman, too, in the same situation) with things that an older, more mature, smarter women would not put up with for a minute.

[redqueen]

135. And they're 'innocent'...

not like those dirty used-up sluts. And they look so pure... I won't go into the details of how their bodies are idealized and fetishized... I'm sure you know. If not, you can search for Bill Hicks' Goat Boy bits... he does a good job of demonstrating the particular sickness that's all too common.

The hatred of and contempt for women held by so many runs so very deep.

[fascisthunter]

5. and this will be used to destroy his credibility regarding WMD's not being in Iraq

[bigtree]

8. there's more to rely on than his word

"There were about 700 inspections, and in no case did we find weapons of mass destruction," said Hans Blix.

http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/03/18_blix.shtml

[fascisthunter]

18. very true, but...

... you know as well as I do the right wing will use this.

[bigtree]

25. been there

done that . . . Blix bailed us out on that one.

I wasn't one who expected him to, either. Thing was, the Bushies were counting on him to either find something or take a harder line. Turns out he was an honest man.

[dionysus]

10. it already was a few years ago when he was involved in a similar case. the first one,

he got out of.

[MADem]

12. He's not needed in that regard anymore. What's known is out in the open now. NT

[Major Hogwash]

13. How? There were none there. Even Bush admitted that.

After we were at war for 4 or 5 years.
That's the one thing that Obama won't prosecute Bush for, starting the Iraq War.

[fascisthunter]

16. I said it WOULD be used to do so... not that I agree

[Major Hogwash]

23. Oh, well, that's a horse of a different color then.

I think Scott went nuts after the war started and no one listened to him.
He should appeal his conviction and use a temporary insanity defense.

Sanity was in short supply in this country when Bush started that war.

[msanthrope]

81. He was contacting minors before the WMD issue. He's just a perv. nt

[Major Hogwash]

94. No, he wasn't and there is no evidence of that.

Blow that big balloon up with more hot air.
He wasn't talking to a minor in this case.

[seabeyond]

97. can you believe, and really, once a girl hits puberty she is free game. and she wanted it, not like

forced. girls now a days look a lot older, at least 35. men can have girls at 10 in other countries so really what is the problem. my great great grandma was 13 when she married my 50 yr old great great grandpa and they lived happily ever after. girls are so slutty, she made the old man do it. it is in mens dna, he cant help it. evolution made him go after kids, so they could breed with the young.

why is everyone picking on ritter.

it is wrong. wrong i tell you

lynch mob. injustice. facist police state.

[msanthrope]

99. Excuse me???? He admitted guilt more than once. His first detention was in April, 2001.

I suggest you click the link and read where he admitted guilt....

[Major Hogwash]

101. Wrong, I suggest you read what really happened in that case.

Because he would not have been in Iraq in 2003 if that were true.

His conviction is being appealed.
Admitted guilt --- hoo haw!! --- that's a good one!!

:rofl:

[msanthrope]

104. He admitted his guilt, including the 2001 incidents, and is getting sex offender treatment.

If Scott Ritter says he is a perv, why are you gainsaying him????

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php


FYI--you might wanna check up on that appeal. It's been denied. Ritter's in jail, where he belongs.

[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msanthrope]

109. "Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson"

Before it was handed down, Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson, Rakaczewski said. Defense lawyers asked that their client be given community-based supervision, basically probation, the prosecutor said.

Further, the judge ruled that Ritter met the criteria as a sexually violent predator, the highest category on the Pennsylvania sex offender registry. He must register in that state as a sex offender and will remain on the registry for life, Rakaczweski said.

SNIP

Wednesday's proceedings began with attorneys for Ritter, one of the U.N.'s chief weapons inspectors in Iraq from 1991 to 1998, asking the judge to set aside his guilty verdict and give him a new trial based on last week's ruling by an Albany-based appellate court. The request was denied as well as a motion to adjourn the sentencing once again.

SNIP
The defense called Richard Hamill, a clinical psychologist from Albany, who testified that Ritter was receiving sex offender treatment, the prosecutor said.


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwxwD9HC


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwxilQS9

[Major Hogwash]

113. You're wasting your time. You already said that once downthread and distorted it there, too.

It's sophomoric to do that sort of crap, by the way.

[msanthrope]

118. So Ritter lied in court today??? The Times Union incorrectly reported his testimony???

Before it was handed down, Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson, Rakaczewski said. Defense lawyers asked that their client be given community-based supervision, basically probation, the prosecutor said.

SNIP

In the spring of 2001, Colonie police said Ritter showed up twice for meetings that he believed would be with teenage girls. The first time he was questioned but let go. Two months later, Ritter turned up at a fast-food restaurant in Colonie where a police officer had set up a sexual meeting while posing as a 15-year-old girl. Ritter was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of soliciting a minor. Months later, the case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, meaning if he stayed out of trouble for six months to a year the charge would be dismissed and the case sealed.

When the Colonie sting came up at his trial, Ritter testified that he knew cops were on the other end, and he wanted to get caught, realizing he had a problem and couldn't help himself, Rakaczweski said.

SNIP
The defense called Richard Hamill, a clinical psychologist from Albany, who testified that Ritter was receiving sex offender treatment, the prosecutor said.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bx1XY464


Is this somehow wrong???

[occupyeverywhere]

17. That's why we are going to go into Syria now

They buried them in the Syrian desert, I heard it on Fox News

[seabeyond]

20. fuck around with a kid, go to jail. nt

[occupyeverywhere]

22. What kid?

[seabeyond]

30. he thought he was fuckin with a 15 yr old. that kid.... nt

[occupyeverywhere]

32. You mean the imaginary kid that doesn't exist

that's in your head?

[seabeyond]

34. i mean the kid he thought he was jacking off to. really, defend the predator that feeds off children

lets here you cut a man slack that wants to fuck a kid.

[occupyeverywhere]

36. How do you know what he thinks?

[seabeyond]

38. prey on kids, go to jail. nt

[JI7]

41. he performed a sex act on webcam, theyu probably have transcripts and other evidence

which shows the person said they were 15.

[occupyeverywhere]

45. Yeah and everything you say online is probably being recorded as well.

Great country huh?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

24. What kid?

I don't think any children were involved in this case, were they?

[seabeyond]

31. he THOUGHT he was.... nt

[occupyeverywhere]

33. How does anybody know what he thought?

We convicting people on thought crimes now?

[seabeyond]

35. defend predators? really? nt

[occupyeverywhere]

37. I get it.

This is your shtick. I've read this board for a while. Go ahead, go OFF!

[seabeyond]

39. you are right. i do have issue with our adults preying on our children. nt

[occupyeverywhere]

42. So they are your children, are they?

You're right perhaps you do have issues.

[seabeyond]

44. you do not have an issue with our adults preying on our children? nt

[occupyeverywhere]

47. "Our adults"

What does that even mean?

[JI7]

49. middle aged guy wanting sexual relationsip with 15 year old

[occupyeverywhere]

53. In the Middle East they marry at 12

That must really cheese you off.

[seabeyond]

56. mmmm, little girls are not allowed to say no. an 8 yr old can be forced to marry and old man

cheese me off? to say the least.

doesnt bother you, huh?

[JI7]

59. and it's fucking disgusting, just like honor killings and other shit that's allowed there

[occupyeverywhere]

61. You must have gotten off when we flattened Falluja

then, didn't you?

[REP]

65. Did that stop 'honor' killings and child brides?

The fail is strong in your logic. Or lack thereof.

[occupyeverywhere]

75. Wait.

Let me check memebase to decipher what you are saying.

[dionysus]

67. you're not even doing a good job at what you're trying to do. retake the class and try again.

[occupyeverywhere]

70. see post #69

baby



:rofl:

[REP]

64. What does "So they are you [a]re children, are they?" even mean?

[bigtree]

51. our kids

. . . what seabeyond said.

[JI7]

46. can't believe people defend this shit

[occupyeverywhere]

48. I'm not defending anything

merely pointing out a lynch mob mentality.

[seabeyond]

52. so it is a lynch mob that says NO to fucking with our kids. wow. do we ignore all crimes?

or just crimes where an old man is going after kids?

[JI7]

58. there was no lynch mob, the guy got off the first time he tried to meet a 15 year old

nothing happened to him.there was no mob.

in this case he got a trial and was found guilty. no mob involved.

[dionysus]

68. and doing a piss poor job of it, it's that's what you're actually trying to do.

[occupyeverywhere]

69. obligatory:

How is that?

:rofl:

[dionysus]

71. keep digging....

[occupyeverywhere]

72. You a big Jerry fan?

[dionysus]

73. yes, as a matter of fact, i am.

[occupyeverywhere]

74. I like how you left a typo in post #68

for me to point out. I'm not taking the bait. ;-)

[MADem]

88. It might not be your intent, but you come across to a reader like you are defending that shit. NT

[occupyeverywhere]

91. I won't even tell you you how you come across

I've read your posts, I see how you are.

[MADem]

100. I don't know you--I doubt you know me. Nice try. You're just getting a charge

out of being a "bad boy." That's fine, but no substitute for an actual life.

[occupyeverywhere]

107. I've read your posts, I know enough about you.

[MADem]

110. How nice that you believe that. NT

[occupyeverywhere]

112. How nice of you to say that.

:-D

[seabeyond]

122. every one of the 62k posts. every. single. one. lol. nt

[seabeyond]

50. i guess some people feel a child is free game for their perversion. oh wait... ritter. nt

[occupyeverywhere]

55. You accusing me of something?

[seabeyond]

57. ya. i am pretty sure you are playing a damn game, thinking you are cute. nt

[occupyeverywhere]

60. In the drama of life

there are kings and there are queens. Which are you? I'm merely a roadie, my art is stagecraft.

[seabeyond]

62. i was thinking you are more the court jester. nt

[occupyeverywhere]

63. Indeed

Bravo!

[REP]

66. In life's rich pageantry, someone's gotta be the groupie.

Nice of you to oblige.

[redqueen]

138. Oh, I can. I really really can.

This mindset is far more common than most people want to think.

[edhopper]

21. I don't condone what he did

But to pleasure yourself in front of a webcam does not seem to be a crime worthy of 5 years in prison. There is a whole industry of men and women who do that on a daily basis to customers, many of whom I guaranty are underage.
I don't think he is not guilty of something, but 5 years?

[pintobean]

26. For what he thought was a 15 year old girl

I wonder how many times he got away with it and the ages of the girls. If it had been my daughter, 5 years would seem lenient.

[bigtree]

29. I look at those caught in these traps

. . . and I imagine what it would be the outcome if there was a real kid on the line. It isn't as if there isn't a major epidemic of online predators. It's not like putting food or money out for someone to grab.

[msanthrope]

86. He got 5 years because this is his THIRD time getting caught by the cops.

Judges can and do take into account prior actions of the accused--including hearsay, prior arrests, etc.

[Major Hogwash]

92. He was charged 3 times, so he had to be guilty at least 1 of those times, huh?

Man, your sense of justice sucks!!

I guess the odds are more in favor of putting someone in jail if they are accused of the same thing over and over again.

[msanthrope]

95. You realize that he admitted his guilt, right? His mea culpa to avoid jail was apparently

not very impressive.

[Major Hogwash]

98. No, he didn't.

I guess just saying it makes it true.

[msanthrope]

102. "Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson,"

Before it was handed down, Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson, Rakaczewski said. Defense lawyers asked that their client be given community-based supervision, basically probation, the prosecutor said.

SNIP

In the spring of 2001, Colonie police said Ritter showed up twice for meetings that he believed would be with teenage girls. The first time he was questioned but let go. Two months later, Ritter turned up at a fast-food restaurant in Colonie where a police officer had set up a sexual meeting while posing as a 15-year-old girl. Ritter was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of soliciting a minor. Months later, the case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, meaning if he stayed out of trouble for six months to a year the charge would be dismissed and the case sealed.

SNIP

In the spring of 2001, Colonie police said Ritter showed up twice for meetings that he believed would be with teenage girls. The first time he was questioned but let go. Two months later, Ritter turned up at a fast-food restaurant in Colonie where a police officer had set up a sexual meeting while posing as a 15-year-old girl. Ritter was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of soliciting a minor. Months later, the case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, meaning if he stayed out of trouble for six months to a year the charge would be dismissed and the case sealed.

SNIP


The defense called Richard Hamill, a clinical psychologist from Albany, who testified that Ritter was receiving sex offender treatment, the prosecutor said.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwudvLV2

[Major Hogwash]

105. I know all about that case. Ritter never said he was guilty for what they charged him with.

He was not found guilty by a jury either, pal.
That's the truth right there.

[msanthrope]

111. Um, dude, this is what he testified to, TODAY. About the PA case.

"Before it was handed down, Ritter told the court he accepted full responsibility for his actions and had learned his lesson, Rakaczewski said. Defense lawyers asked that their client be given community-based supervision, basically probation, the prosecutor said."

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwyvnrHt


He isn't contesting that the NY cases didn't happen, either---in fact, he testified about the NY cases--


"When the Colonie sting came up at his trial, Ritter testified that he knew cops were on the other end, and he wanted to get caught, realizing he had a problem and couldn't help himself, Rakaczweski said."


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Ritter-gets-prison-time-2237126.php#ixzz1bwyhLCUC

[Major Hogwash]

115. No, he did not admit guilt either in Pennsylvania or in the 2 NY cases either.

You can say he did, but he didn't.

[msanthrope]

121. Hey, if you don't want to read the article on his testimony, that's fine.

Other posters can click the link, and then decide if Scott Ritter just decided to get sex offender treatment prior to sentencing for shits and giggles, or because he has a problem...

[MADem]

90. Maybe they've got other stuff on him, too, and victims afraid/unwilling to testify.

Sometimes the charge you get 'em on is just the tip of the iceberg.

I do think three strikes and this guy needs a time out. Hope he gets some sex offender help in jail.

[Name removed]

93. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stevedeshazer]

27. *facepalm*

The guy was right. And SO wrong.

Dammit.

Truth suffers in the face of human frailty.

[bluestate10]

28. Should have used the Weiner defense. What a horrible way to destroy an important role. nt

[msanthrope]

89. Let's not conflate Weiner with this perv, eh???? nt

[derby378]

43. What a shame

Somewhere around here, I think I still have a picture of Scott posing with Ginny.

Everyone's human, and everyone has weaknesses, but dammit, I'm an old fart now. What on Earth would a 15-year-old girl see in me? Ritter should have known better, plain and fucking simple.

[Whisp]

54. ugh. What a sick pig. n/t

[Kalidurga]

78. 5 years doesn't seem long enough...

Especially if he will be allowed computer access once he gets out...

[Nye Bevan]

76. For those defending this pervert because "it wasn't a real girl"

When someone hires a hitman to kill his wife, he will go to prison even if the "hitman " turns out to be an undercover cop.

In these cases do you cry "but it wasn't a real hitman!!"

[Hassin Bin Sober]

136. But there is a real (intended) victim. So your analogy fails here.

[redqueen]

140. The real (intended) victims of online predators exist, too.

Just because you don't know which specific girl would have been victimized doesn't mean they magically cease to exist.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

141. I always wonder about that.

Where are all these young girls having sex with creepy fat old men they meet on the internet? Is there really an epidemic? Maybe I just don't understand the problem.

[UTUSN]

77. Do the crime, do the time. He hurt US, too. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

116. A former DUDarling

[MADem]

120. Amongst some. Not everyone cared for his arrogance/intemperance, even before all this stuff. NT

[Stinky The Clown]

125. NT

Eom

[trumad]

128. Only the ones who drank the Kool Aid

that Dick and George were feeding....

[trumad]

127. Well yeah

He was one of the first to report that there were no WMD's and he was dead right.

He teamed up with Will Pitt and wrote a book detailing the scam about WMD's.

Yeah he was a favorite for that very reason.

[WinkyDink]

129. He was nonetheless correct about Iraq!

[Doctor_J]

132. He's a perv AND he pissed off the wrong people

[AngkorWot]

139. lol, this thread.