We have previously discussed child pornography prosecutions, particularly in terms of restitution and sentencing issues. The case of Francis Calar, 53, shows however the addictive or compulsive character of these crimes. Calar was arrested after on a Colorado Army base masturbating in his car while watching child pornography on his laptop. He is a military contractor “technical trainer” and married with two boys at home.
According to court papers, an officer approached Calar’s parked car and witnessed the act before Calar saw the officer and closed his laptop. He is then quoted as giving a series of incriminating statements like “Yes I know you [saw] what I was doing and what I was looking at.” Police say that later Calar “advised that he has an active interest in child pornography,” and used an unsecured Internet connection at Fort Carlson. He is further quoted as insisting that “his sexual interest in children is purely ‘fantasy.’” He told investigators that he works extensively with children from coaching girls volleyball and boys baseball to teaching Sunday school. He is still listed as the coach at the local high school volleyball team. Those activities will now most certainly end.
He will now face one of the heaviest sentencing systems on the books with a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of ten years. He could also, as we have previously discussed, be looking at huge restitution costs. He have already seen how the length of these sentences and the stigma is so high that suicide is an ever present concern in these cases.
Do you feel that a five year mandatory term is justified or excessive in such a case?
Unless there is evidence of this perp having abused or preyed upon real people, the jerking off to a video on a computer screen in his car is not significant enough to prosecute much less lock him up for five years. There are many of these people out there. Society might have to end the internet to put a brake on it. If this is some hereditary thing then sterilize him. Three generations of imbeciles are enough. Maybe corporal punishment of a certain sort is a better cure down the road than jail time. But ya gotta go all the way and eliminate all of the equipment on the perp. The thing in this particular situation spoke for itself.
The problem is that this is often addictive behavior and therefore is prone to progression due to tolerance – they need more of a “hit” to get the same “high”. This is when the addict is in danger of crossing from fantasy to reality.
There are often other mental health issues present such as depression, ADHD, or other ways the brain chemistry is abnormal. Sexual behavior is extremely problematic as it can be used as a stimulant, depressive, or psychotropic. There is also a high correlation with other additive behavior, especially drugs, alcohol, and gambling. The behavior often starts early as the addict attempts to self-medicate. The shame of addiction often means they hide it and are then trapped in a spiral where there is no way out as the lies and denial pile up layer after layer. Usually, they seek treatment when they “hit bottom” and are confronted with a situation where denial is no longer possible.
Without successful intervention, the addict is a risk to others. Since there is typically a rats nest of mental health issues along family history (both health and behavior), treatment is often “try this and if it doesn’t work, try something else”. This is obviously resource intensive and American society still has very mixed feelings about addiction, drugs, alcohol, sexuality, and personal responsibility.
Personally, I am a strong believer in 12 step programs, but they are not the solution for everyone. Finding the solution can take years of work after reaching some initial level of sobriety. It also takes vigilance as relapse is a very real issue.
Please also note that most of the above applies to any form of addiction. I found the book “Craving for Ecstasy” by Milkman to be very helpful in understanding what’s going on inside the brain.
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”
— Sir Walter Scott
I believe every effect has a cause. There are no coincidences. We live in a demeaning society, denying self respect to virtually anyone who is not a celebrity, an athlete, a rockstar, a Bill Gates, fueled by mass media that cares less for the virtues of ordinary people, more for power and money, promoting political correctness that translates into persecution of individuals and groups who do not tow the destructive script. Everyone has a right to self respect, which is a crucial component of happiness. I have a compassionate heart for this defendant, whom I see more as a victim of a cruel society bent on destroying every other one of us. This societal decline will never reverse, not until we own up to the effect and blame the cause, which is far more sickening than any crime any one of us can commit. Things did not used to be this way, child mass murderers, pedophiles, substance abusers, career slackers, suicide, it is all recent phenomenon.
I don’t think people getting off on fantasy would necessarily attempt to make it real. I think fantasy is fair game, like free thought. I think people hurting others to make the videos mentioned here should be punished for hurting others. I think people paying for those videos are contributing to the industry and should be punished. But I am sure most people having unusual fantasies are not dangerous.
I am concerned there might be a stigmatization of behaviors the general population does not understand. For instance, I wouldn’t be surprised if watchers of gay porn were treated in similar ways some decades ago. Punishments should be based on the harm done to others, not the assumption that someone might be harming others in the future.
Don’t take my word for it though, I am not an expert in either psychology or pedophilia.
To go back to JT’s question, I think we need more information on that person before passing judgement, but judging only from what has been listed in the article, I think 5 years is excessive.
Serenity now.
Guest blogger
Nick,
I may be wrong… But I don’t think anyone has tried to get you banned….. At least not in the last couple of months…. You do still however play the bait game with one gues blogger…. I suggest you caution your statements based upon past history…..
I’m sure you got MANY emails!! So has my wife.
Mr. Turley, Thanks for your patience. I take the digs aimed @ me w/ no problem. But being a husband and father, when it is your famiglia that is libeled in the most vile way, well that takes it to another level. I sincerely apologize. I will cease w/ my comments here about my evil stalker. You have my word. There are people who will, and now have, gone to the most extreme lengths to get me banned. They will NEVER succeed.
Thank you professor… Glad you’re here a little more often now…. I wanted to say something but… I left it alone….this is like the 5 time in two days…. I was thinking he was promoting the book in a back door fashion…l
Nick, I am sorry to hear about the comments on the other site, but I have to ask that we not import that controversy to this site. This thread and another thread has a lot of digs — subtle and not so subtle — from various people. I would ask everyone to please disengage. If you do not like a commenter, ignore him or her. There is no need to respond or engage. Indeed, such exchanges only reward those who want to make our discussions a personal reflection on the participants. I would appreciate everyone helping to maintain our civility rule.
Those skeletons do indeed come out. You know he has lied to many people!!
Sex and violence, sex and children, etc are examples of a physiological problem. Somewhere in the brain wires are getting crossed. The Greeks broke love down into five categories. Nothing has changed since then. The freedom to express love between adults in other than man woman or Eros ways is obviously an issue today. However, violence toward others induced by sexual impulses is assault and should be treated as such. There should be absolutely no quarter given for arguments of sexual confusion. Sexual moves on a child or anyone for reasons other than basic human post pubescence activity is the result of a seriously flawed brain. ‘Post pubescence” obviously has to be a social given. Adults who ‘get off’ sexually on children are problems that a five year sentence will not cure. This is a problem that requires constant monitoring either in prison or on a strict probation.
Understanding is one thing but protecting children and other helpless victims is the crucial issue here.
You have to feel sorry for his guy’s wife and kids, parents and people who respected him at one time. Skeletons in the closet eventually come out and get caught, bones a rattling.
AY
Thank you for the info. That clarifies much.
Darren
The vile comment on my wife’s Amazon book from “Mary” was edited TODAY. This is the only place I have spoken of this stalker. The name is now “M.” But the vile comment remains. A person named Janis, who must be from here, reported “M’ comment as abuse and castigated this stalker. Thank you very much, Janis, it means a lot to me, my wife, and my daughter. I apologize for all this but a case is being made and the stalker lurks here.
Darren,
Here’s an update to this: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/hrsp/docs/03-10-08dod-ucmj.pdf
Darren,
So long as the contractors are connected with a base that’s within the control of the uniformed services their conduct on base or within a close proximity of a base is and could be a basis for the military taking this case for prosecution. Though they are not subject to court martials the punishment can be as severe as any other military personel bringing disgrace to the base.
You don’t want to breach the laws as a civilian on a military installation…. Due process is a foreign concept… It’s whatever the base commander says it is… They are the final arbiter on all proceedings…
Anonymously
I don’t know what the case might be for a defense contractor on base but generally civilians are not subject to military law.
You are right about the sentencing in military courts. When it comes to military personnel bringing shame ont the service the military takes great offense to this and goes after the personnel harshly.
One case I had was where an army staff sergeant was drunk got and out of control at a camping area and began threatening other campers. When I arrived he flipped out and fought me and another deputy. After I got him cuffed up I had to drag him for the equivalent of two blocks the entire time he was griping about how he saved America and he deserved respect. (99% of the time my dealings with military personnel was very professional)
We called up the military police at JBLM and a few minutes later (after 4:00 AM) a Colonel called back and said he and his MP’s were driving over to and get him. I imagine he was about to have his world rocked when they got there. I wish I could have been there to see the look on his face.
Another time a state trooper I know arrested an Army Colonel for DUI on I-5 near Ft. Lewis. The entire time the Colonel berated the trooper and saying the trooper had no power to arrest him. After to Colonel was processed and by then it was the middle of the night. The base commander, a Brigadier General, shows up. He apolgized to the trooper for his officer behaving so badly. The General then went to the holding area and rrrrrrrripped the Colonel a new one. After fifteen minutes of the Colonel suffering an intense and very loud admonishing, he came out totally humbled and apolgized for his actions. The General told the trooper he would take care of his Colonel.