No day at the beach

You just never know what kind of an excuse a suspected sex predator will come up with when he’s confronted. A 25-year-old, Robert Graber, described online in graphic detail how he was going to take the virginity of a 13-year-old—now he says it was all a ruse.

Robert Graber: I really wasn’t going to do anything.  I was going to come here.  I thought it was a prank.  And I was going to leave.

Chris Hansen: And which one of your friends did you think was pulling this prank?

Graber: I don’t know.  I have a lot of of people in—

(overtalk)

Hansen: A lot of practical jokers?

Graber: Yes.

And when they are unfamiliar with to “To Catch a Predator,” they usually think I’m with law enforcement.

Graber: Are you a detective?

Hansen: I’m not a detective.

Graber: Sir, I’m really sorry.

And it seems like 25-year-old Robert Graber can’t figure what’s going on.

Graber: Sir, are you going to hurt me?

Hansen: I’m not going to hurt you?

Graber: Is anyone in the house going to hurt me?

Hansen: Nobody’s going to hurt you.

Graber: Am I going to go to jail?

Hansen: That’s not up to me.

And when he finds out he’s going to be on national television...

Hansen: I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC.

He gives some sage advice.

Graber: Do not mess around on-line.  It can get you really in trouble.  I’m extremely sorry.

Hansen: I appreciate that.

Graber: And I hope I don’t go to jail or anything.  I’m really sorry.

But he will end up in jail tonight.

The police from the Ocean County prosecutor’s office move in and arrest him.

Then comes another suspect-- who will also try to play this as a big misunderstanding. 

He’s 33-year-old Ernest Timmons, a mechanic for the United States airforce. Calling himself joketer34, he’s been chatting online about having sex with a girl who tells him she’s thirteen.

Joketer34: What do you want me to do??

[decoy]: Whatever u want

[decoy]:But I thought u watned the real thing

[decoy]: maybe u’re just dinking with my head

Joketer34: no I want the real thing

Joketer34: I am scared to get caught with a minor

[decoy]: then don’t tell anyone

Then the military man asks the decoy for a photo of her breasts.

Timmons comes to the house camera in hand. Online, he told the decoy that he wouldn’t be able to stay for long.

Decoy: Glad you could make it.

No idle chit chat for this man—he wastes no time making it clear he wants to get busy.

Decoy:  Come sit down.  I made some brownies.  Do you want some?

Timmons: No thank you.

Decoy: Are you sure?Timmons: Yeah.  Can we just go upstairs for a little bit?

Decoy: Oh, let’s just hang out here for a little bit.  Why don’t you sit down?

Timmons: Okay I just need to get going here in a little bit.                     

Casey: His eyes were bugging out of his head.  So I knew—he was either going to do something really quick or he was just going to take off. 

Decoy: Weren’t you going to bring me lotion or anything?

Timmons: Oh.  No, no, I don’t have any.

Decoy: Oh.  ‘Cause I thought you were going to teach me some stuff, that’s all.

Timmons: Is everything okay?

Decoy: Yeah, everything’s fine.

Chris Hansen (walks out): Actually everything is just fine.  But, I need you to have a seat right there for me.

Timmons: Yes, sir.

Hansen: The camera.  Just have a seat please. 

Now watch how fast his story changes- from a man appearing eager to take photos of our decoy—to a mere victim of circumstance---

Timmons: My friend told me to come here to take—bring the camera and—

Hansen: Your friend told you to come here?

Timmons: Yes, sir.

Hansen: And who’s your friend?

Timmons: A guy named Kevin.

Hansen: Kevin?  And what’s Kevin’s last name?

Timmons: I don’t know.                       

Hansen: How long have you known this friend, Kevin?

Timmons: We just met on the base.

Hansen: So, you were going to come in and you have your camera ready and you say to the girl who you think is 13-- or your friend thinks is 13--

Timmons: I don’t know.  Exactly.

Hansen: That you wanna run upstairs ‘cause you only have a little bit of time? 

Hansen: Do you see why this does not make sense?

Timmons: Yeah.  Yes, sir.  I—perfectly—why you think I’m just as stunned as you are?  How—

Hansen: Oh, you’re stunned because you got caught.  That’s why you’re stunned.                                 

Hansen: I think you’re telling a big fat lie to me right now.

Timmons: I’m not tellin’ you lies, sir.

Hansen: Doesn’t make sense.

Timmons: I know! 

As the airforce mechanic sweats profusely he reveals he’s about to be deployed to Iraq.

Timmons: I leave in about a week and a half.

Hansen: And so, you—what?  You stop by here for a quickie with a 13-year-old before you went over to Iraq?

Timmons: No, sir.  I—was a joke.

It turns out the 33-year-old military man is married. His wife’s picture is on the camera.

Hansen: Do you have kids?

Timmons: I have kids, yes.

Hansen: You have kids?  How old’s your kid?

Timmons: She’s seven.             

Hansen: Why would a man in the military with a wife and child at home come hustling nervous into this house with a camera and ask a—a—a—a girl you think is 13 to go upstairs to do what?

Timmons: I don’t know. 

No matter how implausible the man’s story is, he sticks to it.

Hansen: Oh, here’s something.  You seem concerned about seeing those TV shows of people getting caught.  Have you watched those shows?

Timmons: No, sir.

Hansen: ‘Cause you’re about to be on one.  I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC and we’re doing a story on adults who try to meet kids online for sex.

Timmons: (crying) oh please, sir.

Timmons: I was told as a friend to come over.  That was it.

Hansen: And that’s your story?

Timmons: That’s my story.

Hansen: And you’re stickin’ to it?

Timmons: Yes, sir.

Now we’ll get a chance to tell his story to the police.

And apparently the police don’t buy his story either.  After he’s arrested police question him and later he’s brought before a judge who sets his bail at $50,000 dollars.

Judge: Mr. Timmons, your charges are attempted sexual assault and attempted luring. Bail is set at 50,000 no ten.

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