Tuesday, 20 October 2009
-
Whoops! Oh Jesus, Please Help Me!
I have often posted here concerning my legal status: a convicted sex offender, repeatedly and truthfully denying I have ever actually committed such an offense, but nonetheless stating my whole- hearted desire to obey all the law and to be part of the solution to problems in my county and NOT part of the problems. I have cited 1st Peter chapter 3: verse 8 through all of chapter 4 in the New Testament as my marching orders; and these Scripture verses remain my marching orders now. In this manner I intend my life to honor my Lord, Jesus Christ, Who commissioned me to move back to Parke County years ago as His "foreign missionary." For those who know me best, I have achieved my goal. Many others, though, for many different reasons of their own, see me as something else.
Well, Whoops! I have slipped up. Although there has been plenty of opportunity for me to be correctly informed about this, I was only briefly informed about a changed or new Indiana law regarding a new offense: internet usage by convicted sex offenders, on October 9th, 2009. Based upon that incomplete piece of information, I shut down my accounts with MySpace (which I rarely looked at lately anyway) and Facebook (which I have used quite a lot the last few months.) And then I asked folks I trust to search out a copy of the new law. I actually received the full report last night, October 19th, 2009.
The result is: Indiana Code 35 - 42 - 4 - 12. I still don't know exactly when this new law went into effect. Here are the portions which pertain to me: "A person described in subsection (b) who knowingly or intentionally uses:
(1) a social networking web site; or
(2) an instant messaging or chat room program;
that the offender knows allows a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age to access or use the web site or program commits a sex offender Internet offense, a Class A misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Class D felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction under this section.
(f) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that the person:
(1) did not know that the web site or program allowed a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age to access or use the web site or program; and
(2) upon discovering that the web site or program allows a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age to access or use the web site or program, immediately ceased further use or access of the web site or program."I am in the process of removing my self from any internet sites described above. And I will soon need to discuss my issue with my local officials. Meanwhile, friends, please pray for me and for my community, that the Lord may receive glory from this incident.
By the way, I have never used any internet site for any purpose remotely related to the kinds of horrendous behaviors this new law is intended to address! I would never do that! I stand by any thing I have ever posted.
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
share
-
email
- sent 3
Post a Comment