An arrangement for a man to meet who he thought were two teenagers for sex started with an accidental cell phone text message and ended with his estranged wife setting him up for a police sting, according to Vermont State Police.
Police said Jesse Arnold Read, 40, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., was charged with using electronic equipment to lure a child after he was set up by his 23-year-old estranged wife and her friend.
“In this case, it was not the police that were setting Mr. Read up … to entice Mr. Read to come over here to have sex with what he thought was a 15- and a 17-year-old girl,” Northwest Unit For Special Investigations Detective Sgt. James Claremont said.
“In my experience, I’ve never encountered this where an estranged wife has been the one that set up this sting,” Claremont said.
The court papers also indicated that Read was asked to meet the two girls at a gas station in South Hero, Vt.
Read, 40, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., arrived at the gas station hours early, state police said, and parked around the corner. State police said Read had two flower bouquets with him.
Instead of meeting the girls, however, he met state troopers.
Police said it doesn’t matter who was behind the sting, saying Read left his home in Plattsburgh and crossed Lake Champlain thinking he would meet underage girls.
While I’m not in favor of old perverts chatting up young girls, it’s amazing how easy it is to really screw someone over with the full endorsement of local law enforcement. What’s your opinion – Was a potential sex-offender taken off the streets or was this guy just nailed by a bitter ex (or both)?
The guy is an idiot, not a criminal. Unfortunately, for him, the world isn’t a safe place for idiots.
i was under the impression that this would be entrapment unless j. a. read could be shown to be predisposed to this type of conduct? could someone explain this to me?
From the story, “He acknowledged that he came over based on the text messages that were sent to him to have sex with a 15- and 17-year-old girl,”
To those of you (over 16 years old) that think this is entrapment and that he wouldn’t have met a 15 year old for sex if his estranged wife and the police didn’t entice him… ask yourself. Is there anything the police (or anyone) could do that would have enticed you? I Didn’t think so.
He is a sorry scum bag that got set up. No, the charges shouldn’t stick AND the ex and friend should be charged with public mischief.
Q:
1. His EX was 20??
How old was she when they STARTED meeting each other.
Dosent the NO HIT NO FOUL, come into this someplace??
*sigh* and This is why it’s still not legal in the USA for an adult to have sex with a 17 or 16yo female. UNLIKE in Europe where women’s mindsets mature at a much steadier pace than the American ones.
In most nations on Earth this would not be a crime after age 13-14. Especially in developed nations.
Why are we supporting the nanny-state in this area? Because you want to impose your religious beliefs on everyone else?
Sounds like she knew him and his weaknesses well. Glad to see him caught.
“t’s amazing how easy it is to really screw someone over with the full endorsement of local law enforcement.”
It was only easy because the perv was so willing. For most people (I hope most people) it would not have been easy at all.
Mrs Read and her “friend” (whatever that means) should be in a rubber room, or in prison.
She “accidentally sent him a text from a new cell phone.”??? wtf does that mean? It’s quite a bit of work to send someone a text msg without having their details in your address book. To think that she “accidentally” did anything is beyond absurd.
Women like that should be spayed, so they don’t pass on whatever’s wrong with them to their progeny.
From the original reference:
“He acknowledged that he came over based on the text messages that were sent to him to have sex with a 15- and 17-year-old girl,”
Enough said – the idiot willingly, knowingly broke the law; don’t tell me he shouldn’t get the same treatment as every other pedophile or that “the charges shouldn’t stick”. Get real. Only a moron would think that this is the first time for this loser to take advantage of a minor. A 15 year old is a child, for crying out loud. It’s perfectly appropriate for the legal system to protect our children in any way it can – lose the bullshit nanny state dialogue – ‘nanny state’ arguments are appropriate when ‘the state’ makes choices for adults that adults should be making on their own and when they are not infringing on the rights of others.
Whether or not the wife is conniving is not germane to the commission of the crime.
#11 – “Whether or not the wife is conniving is not germane to the commission of the crime.”
but what’s the actual crime here? (seriously) he was planning to break the law, but he didn’t (unless there’s a law that covers this of which i am unaware – which is completely possible).
#12
What? You wanted them to wait for him to actually engage in sex with a minor before arresting him? He clearly has criminal intent.
#13 – yes, you twat, that’s exactly what i wanted – the rape, murder and immolation of two innocent girls. i am so glad you were able to read my intent…haha, get it?
sheesh.
no, what i wanted was a law that he broke, which you so graciously provided me with after the first – and idiotic – part of your answer.
thank you.
so how prosecutable is criminal intent?
I was being ironic. Sorry you didn’t get that. Look up criminal intent for yourself. You can start with Wikipedia and any on-line law text. Or call your parole officer. (That was meant to be humorous – please don’t take it too literally , ok??)
gotcha! no worries then. thanks for the heads up on the criminal intent. should have figured it out for myself – after all, there’s an entire law and order show named after it, right?
btw – my parole officer doesn’t require me to call in, not with this fancy ankle bracelet i have to wear.
While the guy does seem to be a scumbag, I’m concerned at the lack of concern of private citizens taking it upon themselves to do the job of the police. Vigilantism, while fun and exciting in movies and comic books, has no place in a civilized world.
Nothing illegal about this ’round these parts. If its teenagers that are in high-school that he’s after, that doesn’t make him particularly dangerous. It isn’t like he was snatching toddlers. Just like on Chris Hansen’s show, they invited him over, 15 and 17 year olds can take care of themselves.
12 “but what’s the actual crime here? (seriously) he was planning to break the law”
You answered your own question. He was planning on committing a felony but did not, this is known as an attempted felony.
Let’s look at a hypothetical example. A guy decides to go and kill everyone at his work. He gathers up all of his validly licensed hunting guns and rifles and heads to work. The police get a tip and manage to stop him before he kills anyone. Do you seriously believe that no crime was committed and they should just let him go?
Nope, it’s exactly situations like the one I described and the one described in the news article that common-law and statutory attempt crimes exist.
This guy fully intended to have sex with a 15 year old and acted on that intent. You may disagree with the law making it illegal to have sex with 15 year olds, but that’s beside the point. You may also disagree with the charge of first degree murder, maybe you subjectively think you have right to take innocent lives. Plenty of people would agree with you considering how many murders are committed in this country. But that and five cents would only buy you a nickel.
#19 Well, there is the small difference that in the one case we have a fellow with a arsenal of firearms on his person standing at work which is pretty tough to explain unless you happen work at a gun shop (and even then, if you have some wacky manifesto about you, Jane and your Glock, you’re in trouble). In this case, we have a dumbass who was “thinking” about sex with teenage girls (and you’re not?) and his wife, who obviously knew his weakness got him to admit it on text. There are reasons why we have police do police work. Allowing people to be set up for “stings” by their enemies (hardly “disinterested parties”) is setting a bad precedent in my book. Personally, I don’t think this guy committed a crime. Talking to your 23 year-old ex about how you want to bonk a 17 year-old might be a little quirky, but it’s not something the guy should have to go to jail and be registered as a sex offender over.
Mont.
do you remember those Shows on TV..
About getting Peds over to a house to have sex with a minor..
Suggest you look up what happened.
I dont think ANY were prosecuted.. NOT 1.
Another interesting thought..
DONT cellphones have GREAt caller ID??
========================================
Have you ever asked a 15 year old, IF THEY ARE ADULT??
Younger Girls WANt to THINk they look older, and girls over 20 want to look like Kids.. unless you check the ID, you aint going to know..
Wow 23 year old woman married a 40 year old? Just goes to show you the woman was no good to begin with.
Penis Patrol
#22
Hmmm…
A 15 year old MAY be physically mature, but not necessarily sexually mature and certainly not emotionally mature in most cases. What’s your point, anyway? OK, children, at one time were worked to death in sweatshops and factories in this country and children could be openly, physically abused by their parents and ‘teachers’ not too long ago. Doesn’t mean we can’t make progress in this regard with respect to protecting our children before they develop maturity and judgement and the ability to be aware of predatory and hazardous situations. Who cares what was OK in the 1880’s? It would seem that public lynching was ok in the 1880’s in some parts of the country; doesn’t seem like a good precedent to refer back to now does it? The law refers to minors in most states, not some arbitrary differentiation you make between 6 and 15 year-olds.
Another victory in the war on terrorism.