Burglars Call the Cops After Accidentally Stealing Child Pornography

[Dokkie]

Two teenagers broke into a California home in order to steal a few valuables, including a stack of blank CDs. When they returned home with their loot they discovered that the CDs weren’t actually blank, they contained Kraig Stockard’s child pornography collection. The two robbers decided to turn themselves in to police in order to turn over the collection.

The Huffington Post reports that the Merced County Sheriff’s Department decided not to arrest the two burglars. They did, however, decide to raid Stockard’s home.

The police seized several computers, laptops and other hardware, but they did not say if they found any more contraband. Regardless, the police still had plenty of evidence on the stolen disks to arrest Stockard. According to a statement from police, 30 of the 50 stolen disks contained child pornography. The Sheriff’s Department said that thousands of photos and videos were found on the disks.

Stockard was booked on possession of child pornography, but Fox 40 reports that he has already posted his $25000 bail.

My Fox 40 reports that although the police did not press charges against the two thieves, the two teenagers aren’t completely off the hook. Their case has been turned over to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Deputy Tom McKenzie said:

“We did not actually go out and arrest the suspects for the burglary. They were obviously the lesser of two evils.”

read more http://www.inquisitr.com/148681/burglars-call-the-cops-after-accidentally-stealing-child-pornography/

[Warpy]

1. That stuff likely won't be admissible in court.

However, it did provide probable cause to arrest its former owner and gain a search warrant and you can bet the thieves didn't get it all.

Unfortunately, it will also likely get time knocked off the thieves' sentences, meaning they'll be back out and smashing their way into other houses in no time at all.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

12. Why wouldn't it be admissible?

The defendant's attorney might argue the evidence's credibility but it IS admissible.

[grantcart]

15. It is admissible. The police didn't break any laws getting the material.

While the police are prohibited from illegal search and seizure they very often obtain information that was the result of somebody else's illegal act.

As long as the thieves were not working as agents of the police at the time of the theft than the material recovered would be admissible to the police.

[Kolesar]

2. Arrest the burglars and send them to PMITA prison

*Justice*

[Dawson Leery]

3. The buglars should still get jail time.

[tomg]

4. community service. These kids are on the right

side, when all is said and done, and if they have enough integrity to take a risk to really do the right thing, then these are the kind of kids you work with. No way they should get time for this. But community service for sure, and not doing trash by the side of the road - working with kids or helping out the elderly.something tyhat gives to the community.

[MADem]

6. I disagree. I think probation and a diversion program are appropriate.

They were punks going after "stuff," but they did the right thing when it came to abuse of children. They could have kept their mouths shut and that guy would continue to walk free; instead, they put their freedom on the line to get the scumbag off the streets.

That counts for something, IMO.

I think the police or someone in the AG's office ought to take them under their wing, and look out for them, help them in school or towards a respectable trade. I think anyone who would put the suffering of a child ahead of their own personal safety and freedom is a good person at heart.

[meow2u3]

9. I say the burglars should get a reduced sentence

I suggest they get a minimal jail term, such as a year and a day in jail, plus probation for the remainder of their sentence for taking down a predator.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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

[MrsBrady]

5. I don't condone burglary

and... they could have just trashed the stuff or worse, distributed it.

They ultimately did the write thing. I don't want them to get off lightly, though.

Maybe this incident will scare them into doing the right things from now on.

[rhett o rick]

14. They did the right thing but you still want them punished? Good grief. nm

[MrsBrady]

17. um...they still committed burglary

they broke the law, they need some kind of reprimand for burglary.

They should also be commended for turning in the kiddie porn.

It's not an either or thing. It's both.

[rhett o rick]

19. Yes we need to teach them a valuable lesson. Next time, dont turn it in.

No good deed goes unpunished.

[dkf]

7. The kids outted themselves to their parents and the world as burglers.

What's more they have shown a social conscience and are taking responsibility. I say stick them with probation and community service.

[appleannie1]

8. There is a good chance those boys can be rehabilitated and saved from a life of crime.

Hopefully steps along those lines are taken. They were wrong in their actions but possibly prevented a child from being molested, a far worse crime and knew they could be arrested in the process for burglary.

[saras]

10. It's a damn good way to set someone up, if the cops'll ignore burglary for it.

Since the sheriff's office hasn't claimed to find anything else, I'm assuming, based on the way these cases usually go, that that's because they didn't find anything. If they had, it would be trumpeted all over the news.

Therefore, there's no evidence against the guy that the two kids couldn't have carried in themselves.

I'm also wondering who would keep a child porn collection exactly where anyone wanting a blank disk would find it, when it would have been just as easy to label them "Quickbooks" or something.

But whatever. We don't need trials or evidence anymore, someone's word on the internet is enough to convict.

It's not so much the stealing as the violating the sanctity of someone else's home that the kids should be punished for, child porn or no child porn. Actually, a fair number of people, DUers included, would advocate for the homeowner's right to simply shoot them.

[Douglas Carpenter]

18. I think when it comes to accusations that have anything to do with either terrorism or child sexual

abuse - there is a mentality of hang them first and ask question later - or sometimes don't ask questions at all - just hang them. We have already seen many case where both accusations of terrorism or child sexual abuse were simply not accurate. But this does not seem to cause many people to even give pause.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Jail time for first offense residential burglary?

I like the dream world some of you live in.

:rofl:

[rhett o rick]

13. When I read the subject I started praying it was Karl Rove's house. I was praying to anon. nm

[Obamanaut]

20. "Accidently stealing"? No, they stole deliberately, and the stolen goods

happened to contain the child pornography.