this is the problem.
this
is the problem
meet Richard Mallard
Richard Mallard of Utah
Richard Mallard was arrested in July for 41 count 41
41 counts —sorry
41 counts
of child exploitation
41
both uploaded and downloaded
most of which were prepubescent children
some of it
the audio was so bad that the detectives on the case had to turn the audio off
because they just couldn't take anymore
that is why he was arrested
but don't worry
don't worry—
he was held without bail
—which is a relief, right?
oh wait
except that changed.
he's out now.
you wanna know why?
because there's multiple people
wrote letters into the judge
and told the judge what an upstanding citizen this man is
listen we know
we know what he did however
he willingly served a mission
he's a good man who helps other people
he's always ready to help his fellow man
he's a good person and a man of god
and somehow … somehow…
because Utah is Utah that worked
I don't know when people are gonna get it through their heads
but a man who will download and upload
see Sam
who will download and upload images of small children being sexually abused
of anyone being sexually abused
but of small children being sexually abused
he is not a good person if anything
you should be scared that somebody who thinks this way
who enjoys this
who can take part in this activity of trading images of child sexual abuse
could represent your church
that should horrify you
I am so tired of hearing this
the same thing happened when my now former husband
was arrested for sexually abusing our daughter
his own biological daughter
there were people who wrote in letters
there were people who showed up to tell the judge what an upstanding man he is
what a good person what a good husband and father he was
what a trustworthy and dependable man
and then I connected with other mothers who were going through the same thing
a year later a mother from my town went through the exact same thing
and sure enough I went to support her at her husband's
and now her former husband's sentencing hearing
and I heard the same shit
the same he's a good man
he shovels his neighbour's driveways
he's always willing to help out and lend a hand
what who cares
I I do not care what they are willing to do for their next door neighbour
how many driveways they ploughed
I don't care how many community classes they taught
don't you understand all of that is a cover
and even if it wasn't
even if it was one of those things where 2 things can be true at the same time
let's just remember then 2 things can be true at the same time
so sure maybe you saw him being a good neighbour
a good friend etcetera etcetera etcetera
that should not ever be a reason that you will write in to a judge
in defence of somebody who takes part in abusing children
literally I'm not even exaggerating
I'm not like
trying to make it sound worse than it is
this is a man who uploaded and downloaded
who traded images on the platform on kick
so he asked for them and he sent them to people and from people
I'm sorry there is nothing
there is nothing that cancels that out
so multiple things can be true at the same time
you can possibly have seen this person do good things
or be a a missionary
or be upstanding in one way or another
it doesn't matter all of that
all of that is cancelled out
when they do things like this
okay but like
can't people change you know
shouldn't people be given the chance to redeem themselves
so people can make themselves better
etcetera etcetera right
their treatment and all that sure
however
that is irrelevant right now
what was done caused damage
and nothing you did in church
nothing you did for your neighbours
makes that damage less therefore it's irrelevant