Corrupted-Justice Article

18 February 2006 (North Carolina) - Almost two full years ago in May of 2004, a person in North Carolina was "busted" by perverted-justice volunteer vigilantes. There was no law enforcement involvement whatsoever. Instead, in their standard operating procedure, the amateur sleuths at perverted-justice "worked the case" for a while, then the case went cold. It was forgotten about as the perverted-justice members, ever eager for fresh "busts" moved on.

Jump forward almost two years. New Perverted-Justice member "Jol" is reading through old busts in her state and comes across this one where the person involved purportedly lived in the same general area as "Jol". Approximately a week ago, "Jol" posted a message in the thread stating that she is from the area, thereby reviving attention on the "bust".

A new batch of perverted-justice detectives climb aboard the vigilante train and begin shoveling coal into the boilers.

While the "Follow-Up" thread for this bust is now in the area of 21 pages long with contributions from a number of perverted-justice participants, the primary players in this drama, and those who must accept the legal responsibility and inevitable legal fallout from this debacle are as follows:

"Jol", joined PJ on Feb 03, 2006 - 15 days ago - The newbie who lives near the bust who revived the "Follow-Up" thread by posting - Anxious to get her pats on the back from PJers as long as she doesn't have to actually DO anything;

"James Beamer", a PJ member since Jan. 18, 2006 - 30 days ago - supposedly a "Private Investigator" according to his posts - James is busy posting his "PI advice" in the thread, along with offers to illegally obtain DMV information for the "bust" if someone can come up with a license plate number; and

"Tialyx" - Joined the group on Feb 05 2006 - 13 days ago - "Tialyx" just turned 19 and is responsible for posting the big green *CONFIRMED* beside the "bust"'s supposed address. Tialyx was responsible for the suggestion that he had confirmed enough of the information he had dug up on the "bust" to announce that he had declared him as "confirmed".

Throughout the course of this "follow-up" over the past week, a total of 12 different "possible" names, including birth dates, telephone numbers and addresses were posted as likely belonging to the "bust". Four different possible places of employment and three different businesses possibly owned by the "bust" were listed. Four different possible towns were suggested. In the end, it was "Tialyx" who confirmed the address of the bust - How? By contacting person after person in the bust's alleged town by telephone until he could locate someone willing to go to the bust's supposed business and retrieve a postal address from a magazine sitting in the waiting area of the business! THIS was the overwhelming evidence used by "Tialyx" to announce that finally, the full name and address of this "bust" had been *CONFIRMED*.

Next, "James Beamer", being the most experienced of the group (as of today, he's been a PJ member EXACTLY 30 DAYS ) decides it is time for action! One of the others from the perverted-justice team drafts up a PDF flier containing the "bust's" webcam photo from two years ago, some basic information, and prominently displayed under the photo in bold lettering, the FULL RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS that was *CONFIRMED* by "Tialyx".

"James Beamer" then fired up the fax machine yesterday afternoon and sent the flier to THIRTY FOUR businesses and schools in the area. Proud of his accomplishment, he posts the names of everyone he faxed the flier to.

Good job PJ! The only problem?

THEY POSTED THE WRONG ADDRESS!!!

Little did the elite PJ amateur cyber-detectives know, in the intervening two years since the "bust" originally occurred, the person they targeted moved to a completely different area! The address posted on the flier is incorrect!

The home at the address printed in bold black lettering on fliers sent to thirty four different businesses is now occupied by a young family who has never in any way been involved in an Internet chat with a minor! A completely innocent family's home has now, through the efforts of a gang of untrained, inexperienced cyber-vigilantes, been incorrectly broadcast to the world as the residence of a pedophile!

We at Corrupted-Justice only hope and pray that those un-tracable fliers, sent far and wide to businesses and schools all over the county yesterday afternoon don't end up in the hands of a psychopath bent on the destruction of anyone accused of a sex crime against children. Who will take responsibility should someone who sees that flier decide a molotov cocktail is the appropriate response?

Unfortunately, once such actions as that carried out by "James Beamer", "Tialyx" and "Jol" have been taken, they are impossible to "take back". God forbid if that young family is injured or worse as a result of this completely unforgivable screw-up.

While it may provide them with a sick thrill and a sense of power, "busting pervs" is not a job for amateur cop-wannabes with too much time on their hands. When untrained, anonymous individuals with no requirement to take personal responsibility for their actions are allowed to make such serious accusations, innocent people are inevitably hurt. Now, thanks to perverted-justice.com, a young, innocent family is at risk in their own home.

Corrupted-Justice staff are currently working to ascertain the actual identities of those involved in this debacle. We will be contacting authorities in the county involved to ensure they are aware of the danger in which perverted-justice.com has placed this innocent family and to ensure they are aware of the identities of the players. As always, this information will NOT be released publicly. Unlike perverted-justice, our interest is in seeing justice done, not the incitement of a vigilante witch-hunt.

To those who continue to support perverted-justice and vigilantism - This is why your support is misdirected. Just hope and pray that YOUR address doesn't mistakenly end up on one of PJ's fliers. It's too late for that innocent young family in North Carolina.