Here’s a heart-warming Valentine’s Day story. It involves an Idaho Falls guy who used his boss’ Internet connection to prey on underage girls for sex. Fortunately for our society, a proactive website exists that exposes these jerks. The site is perverted-justice.com, and they have even been featured on NBC’s Dateline for their effectiveness against sexual predators.
So back to our local predator, Steve Tupper engaged in an online chat with what he thought was a 13 year old girl, and you can read the transcript of his own damning words here. He clearly knew (or believed) he was talking to a clearly underage girl, and he clearly made sexual advances towards her throughout the conversation. He even gave the 800 number to his work (an Idaho Falls machinery sales company) for the girl to call. In reality, the number was used to help solidify the evidence against Steve Tupper.
It worked perfectly. The person pretending to be the young girl contacted the Idaho Falls Police Department, who enthusiastically accepted the evidence and pursued the case. This is significant, since I heard the site owner describe in an interview that many police departments are not comfortable with computer forensics and therefore cannot really pursue this type of crime.
The PJ site describes Steve Tupper’s conviction, but that is as much information as I could find. Their site links to two different articles at KIDK.com that at one time reported on this story. Unfortunately KIDK has moved the pages without forwarding them, and their main page provides no search function (yo dudes, we can help you with some site design, drop us an email!)
How many more in Idaho Falls can and will be nabbed in this fashion? You can find out information at the perverted-justice.com site on how to properly conduct these type of operations (to ensure you don’t fasely accuse someone, to ensure there is not entrapment, etc.) Let us know if you assist in exposing anyone, even if they are not local.
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Good job there are to many sex offenders and child molesters in the area. One more less perv out there. I would love to see our community go after more of them. I was in Tauphus park with my kids one day and reconized a local sex offender was there alone. I took his picture and said hey i saw you on the sex offender list and told him i was going to give this picture to IFPD he ran off real fast we as a community need to protect our children from these freaks of nature. I think its sad our legal system doesnt punish these guys very well. For example my daughters mom stole a 15.00 – 20.00 shirt from Sears at the mall she was charged with a felony burglary and her under educated mind plead guilty she was sentenced to 5 years in prison. There was a sex offender there I do not remember his name but his crime was he molested 8 little girls he was sentenced to 3 years in prison. What was the worse crime?? look at Kimball Mason his crime was bad too he only got 6 mo. We can not count on the local law enforcment to nail these sex offenders or the court. We as a community need to put theyre pictures up at parks and in the community let everyone with children knwo who they are. and create a program that lets our kids know its okay to tell on these predators.
Here are lists
http://www.isp.state.id.us/so_viewer/search.do
use the zip code finder, and be sure to check 01 and 02 or whatever other local zips because they are different lists.
Also, these are only registered offenders, not currently
hiding, undiscovered, etc.
Someone in the chat today said that it is not worse here than other places and I can only say I wish we could honestly say that it is better than other places, who cares if it’s “not worse” ? A bleeding gaping wound is not as bad as being dead, either.
Yea there is another site that has a map too I lost the link but I type my address in and it finds all the close to home sex preditors. I think we should start a club here that targets these guys and can get them behind bars. I wish they would just give them the death sentence but they won,t because the law makers of Idaho do not think sex offenders are a serious issue and they could really care less. I think we the people are the ones that make the difference and fill the gaps where the law lets the crooks slip thru. I think putting up signs of local sex offenders pictures in parks close to where they live is a good idea. I am going to ask the mayor if i can do that. and i think everyone else should too its all of our responsibility to protect our kids. Just like the west nile virus issue. Parents arent protecting kids from that very well. I used a whole bottle on other kids that werent mine. But technicaly they are all mine. they are the communities children and it takes the community to raise good kids.
Thank you for the website. I’ve checked it many times before but clicked on it after reading this article just to update myself. Imagine my surprise to find someone now on this list living two doors down from my three grandchildren! I have contacted my son to make him aware. I doubt they had any idea. It never hurts to check this site every few weeks.
Yes, Inside Observer. I checked last week for the first time in a couple months.
Found a new sex offender had moved to within a single block of a nephew’s elementary school. (Cloverdale)
Found a new sex offender had moved to a friends’ grandma’s trailer park.
Didn’t they have to drop postcards or go knock on doors to introduce themselves in new neighborhoods at one point, or is that for the most serious offenders? What classifies the msot serious offense?
I’ve been updating the family and friends with that information, and encouraging them to check the site.
Again, the two links are easily found in our right sidebar of every page, alphabetically under SEX OFFENDERS by database or Google map (google map is a little easier).
I wish they would just create and Island for sex offenders and drop them off on it and let them just offend on each other. Or put them all on a boat and dump them over board in the middle of the ocean and put chum in the water if they can swim 300 miles back to shore they deserve to live.
Or just take all the internal organs from sex offenders to help others worthy of saving. Or a lynch mob could show up on their door step and hang them that would be nice. Or opening day for shoot a perverted sex offender day. Beats me I think they should have their manhood taken away. Cut off etc. like that will ever happen. I wish we as a society had rights to protect our children. I wish we could get a governor that would give the serious offenders death penalty. I think they should be behind bars or executed personaly. I think the childs family should be able to execute the guy in a public place for the entire town to see.
I just got an email from a friend who lives in a much safer place in this respect begging me to leave this town because of the concentration of offenders. Not only is it dangerous for the children of this city, it makes our town look really bad to outsiders. Something proactive really needs to be done. I’m with you, Kewl0069. Perverted eunichs, but don’t forget the hands, too. sssssslice.
Before anyone tars and feathers anyone consider:
1. Idaho no longer has a statuatory rape law. Statuatory rape is bad but is far different than molesting pre pubescent teens. But all register as sex offenders and appear the same on lists.
2. Not all sex offenders are predators. I know one who was charged with statuatory rape, back when it existed, for getting his sixteen year old girlfriend pregnant (he was 23 at the time). That was 12 years ago, they are now married, and have had several more kids.
3. Most child molestors (the non statuatory rape kind) molested their own kids (molesting someone elses is common but not as much). Molesting your own kids is bad for sure. But in many cases the victims of said molestation have come to terms with it, have made some sort of peace with it, and even in some cases forgiven their father. Should it really be up to you to decide that the father now has to be executed, harassed, or similar? Or should it be up to the victim. If the victim has come to terms with it and made peace do you really want to go and victimize them again by going after their father? Some may want you to do that because they haven’t forgiven their fathers and they may even join you. But many won’t want that at all. Forcing them to register is one thing, harassing them is another.
4. Only sex offenders labeled as violent sex offenders have to notify the neighborhood they move into. And this isn’t done by them, its done by the Sherriff’s office. Very few sex offenders get labeled as violent.
Thanks Chiasm for pointing out the complicated angles of this extremely emotional local issue.
It’s difficult to restrain ourselves sometimes when we get so angry and have no other way to strike back at the problem.
I have heard many sex offenders don’t get labeled violent. How about labeling the sickest? I think the sickest ones that go for kids ought to get treated like the violent ones, because they do as much damage even if nonviolent.
Balancing viewpoints like yours help everyone understand the side we don’t normally see.
Chiasm how would you feel if the cops found your child raped and torn wide open because some sicko grabbed them while on the way to school. And if a judge or community had taken the issue more serious in the first place it would never have happend. I don’t think consentual sex offenders or the sagitary rape ones deserve death if the gal was 16 or older and she or he was in love with the person. But for someone to tell them I will tell your mom or dad what a naughty kid you are if you don’t do as I say, or i will kill your parents if u tell. These sicko’s need to be erased off the planet. My cousin was raped and slaughtered by some sicko’s and they still have not got all of her killers yet. Because they wont goto the prison and tie the sicko up and beat him half way to death or torture him into a confession on who his helping sicko’s are. And we the best freinds and family must suffer detectives questioning us or thinking we did it or we all know something. Everytime they open her case again all the night mares start again. I remember hiding in my room not knowing who did it and worried I was next. Or the police would pin 1 of us for it since we saw her last. I remember being in court with my childs mother while a sex offender that beat and raped 8 little kids only got 3 years behind bars while her the 15.00 t shirt thief was given 5 years and a felony burglary. Our state and local Government need to step up and make a point to the dirty rotten child sex offending sicko’s out there. We as a society are done with them and they are done offending once they do. I think cutting off the problem surgicaly would really help. Or even death would. Why let them out so they can offend again. My worst fear is some one raping and killing my daughter for their sick sexual gratifications. And no one doing anything about it. I know what I would do. I would serve the rest of my life behind bars for avenging my daughter. There has to be something that we can all do to get rid of the sicko’s after the first time they hurt a child. There should never be a 2nd time the same person hurts someone. I don’t trust my kids with anyone ever never ever. No day cares, no men watch them. I feel the only way to protect a child is to never let anyone u know or don’t know ever have time to sexualy abuse them. Never leave your kids alone with anyone. Make sure 2-3 people are watching them at the same time. Never leave a child with someone alone. Abductions is another fear I have. I always worry that my daughters soft heart and sweet smile and her innosence might catch the eye of a predetor and get her raped , killed, abducted,beatup and molested. There should be some tips on here how to protect your kids
Kewl0069 you have taken this issue over the top, a little too far, maybe. And I’m right with you. This is not just an emotional issue like say whether people should talk on cells and drive. This is a disgusting and socially pervasive problem.
It is hard for many parents to control their childeren’s surroundings. Sometimes day care is not optional, and parents who share custody have no control over what or where (or who) the other parent chooses. All the more reason to get agressive about these crimes. IF is such a vulnerable town because of it’s innocence. Noone wants to talk about the horrors. It is nessecary to be blunt and honest, instead of downplaying the issue.
In case anyone doesn’t know, the statute of limitations has been lifted on old offences, so please speak up if you were molested in the past , especially by someone who is still out there molesting.
On the subject, I know of one person who is so obviously a pedophile and everyone around them respects “who they are” and just accepts them exept for little kids who get the vibe and run away. That is how it works, something so obvious under our noses but no one wants to offend anyone so they just wait for the right moment. Noone wants to risk libel or rocking the boat.
A friend of mine recently took their child to EIRMC to have some suspicious stories and physical symptoms examined. The doctor there told them that unless the kid is “split open”, there’s not much they can tell. The child had an infection, but the doctor gave them a cursory glance and said “these things just aren’t very satisfying.” If you have suspicions about your child’s safety, do not take them there.
Ug. this has turned into a babbling rant because there is no beginning or end in sight to this problem.
Like meth and graffiti (and some of this problem definately ties in with meth, at least) it is this town’s choice to do something or continue to suffer the consequences.
See:Spokane, WA.
Kewl
At no point, did I condone what sex offenders have done. I was only pointing out fallacies in arguments that many make in regards to sex offenders.
I understand your anger because the Angie Dodge case is a hard one for friends and family to bear. She died horribly and it sucks that only 1 of the 3 people involved has been charged although I understand why the other known person thought to be involved hasn’t been charged – its a very circumstantial case against him, he’s not talking, and he’s already in prison for a near identical murder and not going anywhere for at least 20 years so they have time to build a better case against him. It was pretty obvious to anyone who has lived here for a while who you were talking about.
But you, by bringing it up make a lot of the point I was trying to make – not all sex offenders go after children. Angie Dodge was killed by people who attack other adults, not kids.
My other point is that there are different classes of sex offenders – some go after adults, some are guys who had sex with willing teen girls but age of consent laws got in the way, and some are those who molest little kids. But sex offender registries usually don’t differentiate between them. People in their ire tend to classify all sex offenders as the type who go after little kids which isn’t true. Again, I don’t condone the statuatory rapist but they are much different than say the guy who kidnapped and killed Polly Klaus or the serial rapist who kidnaps and rapes adult woman completely against their will.
And lastly, a message to everyone. The thing people don’t realize – they are so busy watching out for the registered foxes they don’t realize that the unknown fox is already in the henhouse. Your children are in much greater danger of being molested by one of your family members or neighbors than they are by anyone on the sex offender list. The vast majority of molestations are done by family or close friends of the family. Usually its dad but sometimes its an older sibling, grandpa, an uncle, a cousin, or someone else you would never suspect. And very sadly when a kid is abused its common for that victim to turn around and abuse an even younger child by copying the abuse done to them onto younger kids. Very rarely do you get a child – child molestor who hasn’t been abused themselves. Not all victims of abuse become abusers but nearly all abusers were victims. Doesn’t make it okay but its something to think about.
Chiasm makes some good points. Unlike many of our other crimes, we don’t have different levels for sex offenders. Like 1st degree murder, 2nd degree murder, manslaughter, etc.
Yes, if a man has been charged with statutory rape for having sex with his underage girlfriend, it doesn’t rank up there with the likes of a violent predator. But, oftentimes, we get so hell bent on making excuses for sex crimes that the lines of distinction begin to be fuzzy. But what about when that twenty-something young man is now forty and still has a proclivity for teenage girls. Will the next adolescent girl be so accommodating? Since we currently have no ability to differentiate between the pedophile and the young couple with an age gape like you mentioned, then we must err on the side of caution.
I found some websites on child molestation and the statistics are staggering. 117 victims per molester!
I did some research a few years back and many molesters have as many as 200+ victims before they are caught the FIRST time.
That is downright scary.
The key is prevention, as best as we are able.
Day care is a necessity for many people, so unannounced visits during the day are a method of prevention.
Sleep overs are discouraged now because molesters are more likely to be someone we know than someone we don’t.
Having four and five sets of eyes at sports practice. Chaperones at music lessons.
Meet the parents/family of your children’s friends. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Know where your children are at all times. Check up on them.
Bookmark the sex offender registry and check it often.
Talk to your kids and grandkids. The best talks, especially the ones about the most uncomfortable topics, took place in our car as we were driving somewhere. My kids told me stuff I’d have died if I’d told my parents. Maybe sometimes more than I wanted to know LOL but again the alternative is unthinkable.
From the time they were little, I told my children that if anyone ever told them not to tell me something, that was the first thing they should do is tell me. No one with nothing to hide would ever tell a child to keep something from their parents. That made it tough to keep surprise parties a surprise, but the alternative is unthinkable.
Do I think we should take them out and castrate them? Not necessarily, but I at least want to know someone with a sexual criminal history is living in my neighborhood.
Ignorance of the law has never been an excuse. We see people every day having to suffer for a long time for a single error in judgment. But given the seriousness of a sex crime, I just don’t see what choice we have. Sometimes, people have to be put in uncomfortable situations to protect society. A great example would be having to be screened at the airport. It’s a drag, but hey, beats the alternative. I’m not a terrorist, but I’ll agree to be screened if it’ll help keep us all safe. Same with drunk driving checkpoints. I don’t drive drunk, but if they can get a few drunk drivers off the road so I’m safer, I’ll put up with it. If a few non-violent statutory rapists have to register so I know about the dangerous ones, well . . .
Yes I agree. It usualy is a family member or a freind. the worst of all is the one who hasnt been caught offending. I think our schools need to teach our children about sexual predators just like sex education. But teach them this at a young age. Give them some phone numbers to call if they do not want to talk to mom and dad. Another problem is kids making molestation up. I had an uncle who was accused by one of his grand daughters for touching her wrong. It turned out she was just angry at him and wanted to get even. She didnt understand she could have got him tossed in jail for years. Just on a verbal report. I do not think it should be that easy to nail a sex offender. But many kids coming forward or some physical evidense is nice. I think the unknown offenders are the worse. I have this uncle that is the kind of guy that stares at young teenage girls and makes sick sexual statments about them. Then he wants me to bring my daughter around him he tried to take my daughter to his house once then tried to intimidate me into allowing it by acting like he is a bad tough guy. He found out quick what i thought I was like. You are a sick man I have heard the things you say around young girls I think you would sexual abuse her and get killed for it. So she isnt going anywhere with you and if you don’t like it then we can fight to the death because she will never be alone with you. Stay away from her and me. He didnt like hearing this. He was real persistant he has tried so many times to get me to allow his wife to baby sit for me. My answer has been no. He still tries some times. He walks upto her first and tries to hold her and hug her and i get pissed and tell her to goto her room till he leaves. I am very blunt about things like this I think everyone needs to remain open minded when it comes to jerks like that. If I ever suspect someone hurt my daughter they will get turned in after i am done with them. A sexual predator should think it over real good before messing with my kids. IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?? MESS WITH MY CHILDREN AND FIND OUT!!!! lol I should make them shirts that say that lol. Maybee im just paranoid.
Interesting discussion that seems to have heated up again. I have many points to make, but not adequate time to do so today.
I am the one who said I don’t believe the rate of sex offenders is any higher than Idaho Falls than any other city, in a chatbox chat one day. I think the public is more aware of it locally, due to Scouts Honor, and subsequent discussions. As bad as sexual abuse may be locally, some of the first steps have been taken. Look at what is happening here- we’re talking about it instead of remaining silent or pretending that so and so really isn’t an offender and some grandpas just always have to have their grandkids on their laps in certain positions, but what would grandfathers do to their own flesh and blood? After all, that sounds really sick. Guess what – it is really sick, but it still occurs. There are patterns to sexual abuse and how offenders find their victims. People look at the registry and open discussions are occuring. By talking about it, we are taking a major step to stamping it out. Intimiation and “secrets” are the horrible dangers of sexual abuse.
Additionally, I suspect many cities have stats that may look lower than Idaho Falls, as no one has really dug into it the issue. So in MHO, many citizens in Idaho Falls are much further ahead than those in other cities where “sexual abuse doesnt’t occur.” Unfortunately, sexual abuse occurs in every city.
I appreciate the protective pro-active views that have been expressed.
I agree with much of what Chiasm has said. It would be a major error to group all sex offenders in the same boat. At one point in my career, I directed a sex offender treatment program for four years, so I know a little bit about the subject. having treated both male and female victims and male and female offenders.
So I will leave you with these two questions until I can more fully address some the really complex issues. 1. So far, everyone has talked about male sex offenders. There are females too. They are also listed on the registry. Why are we not talking about the females who sexually violated others?
2. WHY, hasn’t ID passed Jessica’s Law?
The stas say 25% of girls will be victims to sexual abuse and 1/7 boys. Personally, I think it’s higher for boys, but many didn’t recognize or report the violation, especially as teenagers. Many teenage males, especially with older females thinking of it as “scoring” (so-to-speak), rather than being sexually violated. Would you want your teenage son touched inappropriatey by an offener and more than your would want your teenage daughter to be touched inappropriately?
Hopefully, those are a few idea to think about from a different perspective.
So maybe the registry should be changed to group by offenses, and the original case documents should be linked from the registry in archives.
This way when you find out a sex offender lives on your block or across from where your kids play, you can research yourself and decide for yourself the threat.
As it is now, the sex offender registry may actually do more harm than good by scaring us over every person on it, regardless of their offense.
What would it take to get the sex offender registry changed? Legal changes?
A slick programmer created the google mapped version that pulls the sex offender database entries. Could that same or another slick programmer modify it to display according to offenses?
There is a site called incidents.com that seems to be heading in that direction. I am glad this topic is getting discussion.
Here is another link that is a free mapping tool, just put in the zips. Once again, be sure and check 83401 and 02, etc. seperately.
http://www.us-sex-offenders.com/map.aspx
This might be the one you are refering to, Joe.
Joe, I think parents ALWAYS have to decide a threat for their children. However, depending on the offense, much like Chiasm explained earlier, if a perpetrator’s pattern is to sexually abuse ONLY females or a certain age in his/her extended family, I don’t think the average person can assess true risk (and I do not mean to offend you).
I had to go through two hour appts. and ask all sorts of questions of these convicted offenders, then male offenders had a plethysmograph, just so everyone was very certain what arroused that person. With my years of training and experience, I would have to make an assessment of how much of a risk I thought that person was to others.
You are right in the sense that the registry is confusing, at least from my POV.
I still do not feel sorry for a sexual predator. Thats my final opinion on that. But people with mental illness from childhood that is serious with learning problems. People that are trapped as a child in a grown up body I do feel for them. they do not know what they are doing is wrong. I have it out for the big fat hairy bald 45 year old typical male that goes after 9 year olds and 13 year old children that does know better. Those people should all be shot period. Forget registering those pervs just register them into a cemetary where they can’t hurt anyone again.
As much as I’d like to leave it at that, as well I hate to see discussion fade on an important topic. I think kewl0069 has some really good advice on being real with creepy people and Inside Observer has listed some good tips, too. Since we can’t start up a lynch mob, maybe the best topics would involve educationg parents further and exploring how to out the undiscovered molesters, which are even worse (in some ways) than the ones on the map. So far we have attitude, pre planning for circumstance, and maps to work with. Keep it coming.
Nice to hear a stearing back to solutions-orientation, Archy.
I was scrolling down to read this newest comment and thinking how we aren’t talking much about the original subject: a local pervert Steven Tupper got busted by the (in?)famous perverted-justice volunteers. http://perverted-justice.com/
Couple that info with Mary Sturgill’s excellent report (KIDK) the other night where she matched several local registered sex offenders with online MySpace profiles.
Perhaps a local group could meet to discuss the strategies used by PV.org and how Mary Sturgill made her matches and make a workplan to snare local offenders in innappropriate chats with ‘underage girls’.
And that would be the next best thing to a lynch mob!
I hadn’t heard about that, yet. Mary Sturgill’s report) I’ll look it up. You know, the map sites specifically say that if would be felonious to use the info for the purposes of harming someone (read the legals if you want it said better…) but I don’t see why a given person couldn’t set up a myspace and troll for local pervs, lure them out somewhere, and when they show up start flashing photos or whatever ideas kewl0069 might have to contribute. Also, as Joe said maybe just start collecting rancid conversations if you’ve got the stomach for it. The trick is to make their methods questionable at best and unsafe at the worst.
Read the PJ site and you’ll see how they operate to collect court-admissable evidence. Things like not being the first to suggest sexual activities (entrapment), etc.
And they do maintain chat logs and IP addresses of who they chat with for ‘computer forensic evidence’.
If one were to follow the PJ site protocols, then just made themselves available in the MySpace arena of the perv, it would probably be okay.
And part of the PJ’s MO is to finally arrange an ‘illicit meeting’ with the perv and which is when they turn over the evidence to police. The cops show up at the prearranged time /date/location with the evidence, and it’s painfully obvious what’s going on when the perv shows up.
Since kewl 0069’s comments seem to have polarized the punishment issue, I’d like to go back into that a little more. How about longer, tougher sentences for these sick individuals? Particularly in cut and dried cases. It’s the loving, forgiving atmosphere of small towns such as this that make us so appealing.
Good point. Can Idaho’s legislature and governor toughen the mandatory minimums or sentencing guidelines for sex offenders, or is that a federal thing?
If it’s a federal thing, perhaps Butch Otter could play catch-up with his lack of introduced bills and try to get those sex-crime sentences raised. Give him a sense of purpose so he doesn’t feel he’s wasting his time there.
Ok, that was a political crack, but seriously can Idaho strengthen these sentences or is it a federal thing?