On the hunt for Internet sex predators

A lot of similar excuses
As the men approached our undercover house, hidden cameras rolled and kept rolling as I startled them and started asking questions. Just about everyone of them gave me the same story...

Beck: I’ve never visited a teenage boy before in my life.

Aladdin: First time in my life this happens to me.

And some came up with more creative excuses.

Artie: She said she was 13, that’s why I was concerned she’s gonna be by herself. So I wanted to stop and talk to her.

Hansen: So you’re just being a good Samaritan?

Artie: Yeah.

Hansen: Because there was a 13-year-old girl…

Artie: By herself.

Hansen: Home alone?

Artie: Right.

Hansen: Right so out of the goodness of your heart, you were gonna stop by and baby-sit her, is that the deal?

Artie: Well sort of I guess, order pizza, watch a movie or something.

This guy named Yonis says it’s all a case of mistaken identity.

Yonis (hidden camera footage transcript): It’s not me. I assure you.

Hansen: Let me get this straight, so there’s another guy named Yonis who happens to look like you and have the same cell phone number as you and has a dirty conversation about sex with a 12-year-old girl, but you didn’t. But you end up showing up here anyway.

Yonis: No, I am not at all that person.

Just about every man who walked into our house said he really wasn’t planning on having sex with a minor. But we’ll never know what would have happened had we not been there.  Still, none of what we heard surprises Lt. Jacoby of the Fairfax county police department here in Virginia. He says he’s heard it all before.

Hansen: “I’ve never done this before.”

Lt. Jacoby: We’ve heard that one. That’s usually or probably not true.

Hansen: “I’m here to protect them.”

Jacoby: That’s probably one of the biggest ones we also get.

Hansen: “I didn’t think I was actually talking to a minor.”

Jacoby: Again that’s something that we’ve heard quite often from people.

Hansen: How often do you think we’re being lied to when we hear those excuses?

Jacoby: Usually about 100 percent of the time.

A powerful addiction
So why would a man with so much to lose risk everything to meet a child for sex? Dr. David Marcus, a clinical psychologist who treats men with sexual compulsions, says it’s a powerful addiction.

Dr. David Marcus, clinical psychologist who treats men with sexual compulsions: They don’t know what’s driving ‘em.  All they know is they’re being driven and they can’t stop.  And to risk themselves so greatly clearly shows how powerful a ride that is.

Most guys don’t go on the Internet and say, “You know, I’m gonna decide to ruin my life today.”  Most guys go on and say, “I need something to make myself feel better.”  They’re not conscious of what they’re doing.

And Dr. Marcus says there are different reasons men choose to meet children for sex.

Marcus: Some, and this may be a minority, have a primary attraction to that age group. Others are looking for a situation where they can feel powerful, where they can, again, explore parts of themselves and try to do things in a situation where there is a power differential.

Whatever power they thought they had, it’s lost as soon as they see me, and now they’re about to learn I’m not a parent or the police. 

Whatever power they thought they had, it’s lost as soon as they see me... And now they’re about to learn i’m not a parent or the police. 

All the men found out the meeting was all being taped for the record— and for broadcast on "Dateline." You might think being caught on tape would be enough to deter these men from ever entering a chat room again... Maybe not. 

You might think being caught on tape would be enough to deter these men from ever entering a chat room again, but wait until you see what “specialguy29” is up to next.

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