Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009

RSS |

Twitter

Texas Accidentally Bans Straight Marriage

Law designed to forbid gay civil unions actually bars any unions

Nov 19, 09 7:28 AM CST
Amanda Knox:
Murder Charges
'Pure Fantasy'

Prosecutors ask for life sentence; defense prepares final arguments

Nov 21, 09 1:05 PM CST
demagogue alert

Lawmaker Paints Target on Barack Obama's Back

Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert panders to dangerous paranoids

Nov 21, 09 9:08 AM CST
Shaniya Raped, Killed on Day of Abduction: Cops

NC 5-year-old was asphyxiated, arrest warrant says

Nov 20, 09 5:04 PM CST
Judge Orders
Hasan Held 'Til
Court Martial

Ft. Hood suspect likely to move from hospital to jail

8 hours, 17 minutes ago
Pub's Bad Service Leads
to Arrest—of Irate Patrons

No skipping gratuity, restaurant says

Nov 20, 09 11:14 AM CST
Peru Gang Accused
of Killing to Harvest Fat

Cosmetics firms said to pay $60K/gallon; experts skeptical

Nov 19, 09 10:00 PM CST
BIG BROTHER

Cops Use Facebook to Bust Underage Drinkers

Phony 'friend' gains access to drinking photos

Nov 19, 09 6:19 PM CST
Mother of Slain
5-Year-Old
Is Pregnant

Antoinette Davis is accused of selling her daughter as a sex slave

Nov 17, 09 5:13 PM CST
kercher murder trial

Knox Acted Out of
'Hatred': Prosecutor

Closing argument speaks of 'crescendo of violence'

Nov 20, 09 2:57 PM CST
CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL

Defense Accuses Man Who Found Caylee's Body

Cops have already cleared utility worker

Nov 20, 09 12:12 PM CST
John Kerry:
My Daughter Wasn't
Legally Drunk

Says Alexandra was busted for expired tags, but passed test

Nov 20, 09 8:33 AM CST
Your Boss Can't Read Your Email, Courts Say

Judges start to sympathize with employees in privacy disputes

Nov 19, 09 11:42 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

'Manhattan Manny' Pleads Guilty in Boy's Sex Abuse

21-year-old babysitter dodges life sentence with plea

By Rob Quinn| Posted Oct 2, 09 4:08 AM CDT|

(Newser) – A male babysitter who dubbed himself "the Manhattan Manny" is facing a 12-year sentence after pleading guilty to sexually abusing an 8-year-old boy. Jonathan Then, who also worked at summer camps and as a teaching aide in some of New York City's ritziest private schools, had originally been charged with molesting four boys but prosecutors cut a deal so the children wouldn't have to testify, reports the New York Daily News.

Jonathan Then will be sentenced October 15 at the Manhattan Supreme Court and is expected to get 12 years in state prison. (Shutter Stock)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.20.09

The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun

11.19.09

Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention

23 comments

VIEWING:

riffran
Oct 2, 09 4:36 AM CDT

you have got to be sh**ing me...another child molester...good greif...go ahead A....try to rationalize this one Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 4:51 AM CDT

Nothing to rationalize. This piece of shit deserves to spend many years behind bars.

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Oct 2, 09 5:38 AM CDT

I admit I'm shocked.....pleasantly so .....touch'e.....signor :)

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 5:50 AM CDT

You shouldn't be shocked, that's what surprises me. You act as if I support child molestation, when in pretty much every post I've made on the subject I've made it clear that I don't support it and that they should indeed go to prison. Go back through my posts if it makes you feel better, I only ridicule those who want to circumvent the law and those who have moral objections to amoral concepts and behaviours.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Oct 2, 09 6:26 AM CDT

"Laws on child porn do not necessarily target behavior that's harmful to children. Some guy downloading child porn from the internet for free (via file sharing or whatever) is not harming any children and is in no way giving the producer any incentives and YET you still have a problem with it. Therefore, I argue, you have an emotional moral objection to it stemming from your intuitive tendency to protect children. "......dude that seem a bit supportive to me...sure kiddie porn is just fine, nobody is hurt...???????? come on now...and just who took those pictures? Victimless crime? Children thrust into sexuality when they should be out riding bikes or playing ARMY or hide and go seek, not engaging in sex acts....Child porn is sick, those that produce it are sick, and those who crave to look at it are sick, or repulsive or perverted or whatever label you want to put on them...Maybe you are sending mixed messages, getting a little lost in the complexity of what you are really trying to say......I still go with the thesis research idea....

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 6:34 AM CDT

I stand by everything I said in that. Look, you just can't seem to be able to establish cause and effect here. Let me ask you, when you look at footage on CNN or the internet or whatever of a war zone or the aftermath of a bomb, with all the dead bodies and everything, does that mean you SUPPORT or even AGREE with what the bombers did? No. Does watching it in any way support the bombers? No. Does it in any way harm the people who are injured but still alive in the footage? No. See, we've applied your same logic to another circumstance and we would expect your conclusion to be the same. That it's bad to watch dead people or watch any footage from anyone you don't support. But we don't find that, what we find is that you don't have any problem with people looking at bombing aftermaths but you DO have a problem with child porn gotten freely. In both cases, someone was harmed; In both cases, you're watching it without supporting the cause of the footage you're interested in; in both cases no one is harmed by you watching it. In short, it comes down to your personal preferences and how revolted you would be to watch child pornography. I would be too, just like I would be revolted to watch an American soldier being beheaded in the name of Allah, BUT unlike you I don't think less of anyone who watches beheading videos OR child pornography as long as in both cases they didn't do it themselves OR support any person or organisation that produced the material.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Oct 2, 09 6:44 AM CDT

I don't agree with ANY child porn..free paid or other.....ive said it before ...you make a very eloquent point...but I just don't buy it. You can twist the logic around any way you want, but kiddie porn in any form or practice or usage is never acceptable....lol..so sayeth the UGG

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 6:45 AM CDT

You sound just like the white man 150 years ago who, in response to abolitionists, might have said "You can twist it around any way you like, but letting a black man do everything us white men can is just WRONG." There's a reason logic is paramount.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Oct 2, 09 10:58 AM CDT

@aelius- your discourse has just gone from esoteric to at best, confused and at worst, bringing in a black/white issue.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 2, 09 11:45 AM CDT

@aelius and for riff & schmidt - A big difference in the example provided for the sake of logic is that soldiers in a war zone choose to join the armed forces and know they may face the horrors of war. We, as the viewer, are aware they made that choice and perhaps part of the reason we watch it is so that, on some level, we share their pain. Even in the case of, say a terrorist bombing no one expected, we watch in order to share the pain. The victims of 9/11 did not choose to put themselves in danger (although it could be argued since the Twin Towers were known to have been a target), but they were victims of something horrific and I think most people who watched the video of the aftermath did not watch because they got a thrill from it, but indeed, in order to share in the pain somehow, to grieve for a national tragedy and to be informed on what is happening to our country. However, children photographed sexually did not choose to be photographed sexually and never choose that. An adult made the decision for them or led them to believe it was an ok thing to do so they'd be willing. In the Brooke Shields situation, her mother made the decision to allow her to be photographed. There are huge differences between watching videos of war and terrorist acts and watching videos of naked children and nothing you can say can make them the same for people who have compassion and empathy in their physiological make up.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 11:53 AM CDT

I'm glad you brought up 9/11, because it's the perfect example of a catastrophic incident where the victims did not wish to be victims and didn't get involved in their job at the World Trade Center or whatever with that risk in mind. Not many people watch it for the thrill of it, though a surprising amount do I'm sure. The bigger point I'm making is that you don't think it should be ILLEGAL to watch 9/11 videos, do you? So don't say that you think it should be illegal to watch child pornography because the child didn't want to get involved, OR you must also want 9/11 footage illegal as well by applying the same logic.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 2, 09 12:36 PM CDT

@aelius - I absolutely do not think it should be illegal to watch video of 9/11 and I absolutely do think it should be illegal to watch child pornography videos. And as I said, some would watch it for a sick thrill. However, you will never convince me that those who look at child pornography do *not* watch it for a sick thrill. There is no other reason to watch child pornography for the average citizen. I feel sorry for law enforcement authorities and medical authorities who must watch it for legal and medical health reasons, but outside of valid situations such as those, the average person does not watch it but for that sick thrill, whereas, the average person who watches video of 9/11 is not watching it for the sick thrill, imo. I've no way to back that up as I don't think there are any statistics on such a thing, but without proof one way or the other, it is my opinion that 9/11 video is not watched for sick thrills anywhere near as much as child pornography is watched for sick thrills. While logic and reason are extremely valuable and much needed in areas such as medicine and politics, for example, people cannot operate on logic alone. Your desire to demonstrate you are so logical and unemotional goes so far as to ignore the fact that emotion and reason actually go hand in hand more than you would acknowledge. You might remove a family member from life support because it is not logical to you to keep paying for it if there's no hope of the family member living without it. I would remove a family member from life support because my compassion would lead to reasoning that the family member would not want to live like that.

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Oct 2, 09 1:33 PM CDT

He should have run to France and waited for Whoopi to defend him. Or Woody. Or any of the other Hollywood idiots.

| 0 minutes ago

MarkMcJackoff
Oct 2, 09 6:10 AM CDT

This light sentence is very worrying indeed and seems to stem from a deal made with the judge so that they didn't have to bring in the older kids for testimony. I imagine if he behaves himself he'll be out in 6 years time ready start all over again. The sentence does not fit the crime. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 6:17 AM CDT

Unfortunately, neither this nor the source article detail the nature of his crimes. If he sodomized them, I think the sentence is fair enough. If it was basically just a little rubbing underneath the bedsheets, then, whatever, not too big of a deal. Send him off to prison for a little while, since it can indeed be psychologically harmful to the child. But it's nowhere near as severe as sodomy and other physical abuses. And you have no evidence that he'll be inclined to repeat the crime after he's out. Why would he do that? He'd have already served many years in prison and repeat offenses are more harshly punished; unless he's insane he won't do it again.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Oct 2, 09 6:29 AM CDT

it's just a little rubbing????? Its all milk and cookies and love.......I don't know A. I would stick to the "piece of shit and needs to be behind bars " comment

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 6:40 AM CDT

Well, the initial interpretation I got was that he seriously abused them. It occurred to me later that it could be milder than the article's writers make it out to be. Being human, themselves, after all and subject to the same emotions. Still, it's scientifically quite clear that even mild sexual molestation (even when the child consents and has a good time with it) can be damaging to the child. Human brains at such early stages of life are difficult to predict, just look at what happened to Jaycee Dugard. So I'd still punish him, just like I would punish a kid who stole a candy bar, just not as severely as if he seriously abused them.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Oct 2, 09 11:07 AM CDT

@aelius - we don't need to know the details of his perversion against these children. there is no such thing as mild, milder or mildless. child abuse is child abuse. as far as him repeating? there are reams of research that adult child molesters will do it AGAIN. a candy bar stealer has not a damned thing to do with whether the punishment is less or more. get a grip man.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 11:57 AM CDT

Yes there are degrees of sexual abuse, are you insane? Touching the genitals through the clothing is far more mild than violent sodomization, and you know damn well. Yes, of course child molesters have a very high potential of repeat offenses, but so what? Get your representative or whatever to try and increase the penalty for the crime. If you locked people away in jail forever because of the possibility of them repeating their offense, everyone in jail would STAY in jail, and we don't want that.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

MarkMcJackoff
Oct 2, 09 6:47 AM CDT

Unfortunately recidivism amongst these kind of criminals is very high at around 45% - and it should be remembered that sexual crimes against children are notoriously underreported. There is something so deperate within the sex offender that they are quite unable to restrain themselves. The answer of course is physical or chemical castration which I would heartily endorse even for the "little rubbing under the bedsheet" I think someone else is getting carried away - or should be carried away. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 2, 09 7:07 AM CDT

The vast majority of child sexual abuses are not perpetrated by pedophiles. And if that sounds like an oxymoron, then you don't know enough about the subject to be speaking so adamantly about it. Most child sexual abuses are perpetrated by people who were abused as a child themselves. They're not doing it for the sex, they're doing it for the power. Therefore, castration will make you look like the primitive barbarian and he'll go on his merry way molesting children over again because his hormones have nothing to do with it.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Oct 2, 09 11:12 AM CDT

@aelius - i would suggest a little research on your part.

| 0 minutes ago

MarkMcJackoff
Oct 2, 09 7:54 AM CDT

What nonsense you write. But I will resist the red flag and stand by the well researched data I have at hand which entirely refutes your contention. Off with their testicles! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 23 comments »

New York City • child molestation • sexual abuse • guilty plea • babysitter

from our news partners

Jenna Fischer Knows As Much About Her 'Office' Baby As...
(2 hours, 52 minutes ago)
Jon Gosselin Brings Roses to Successful Divorce Meeting
(5 hours, 48 minutes ago)
Michael Jackson Glove Sells for $350,000
(6 hours, 29 minutes ago)
Tween Girls Go Wild at Justin Bieber Mall Event; 5...
(6 hours, 50 minutes ago)

Design a patch for the final shuttle mission. Difficulty: has...
(3 minutes ago)
Another sign of a reviving economy: Michael Jackson's glove sells...
(17 minutes ago)
Flooding continues in Lancashire. Maybe if they drilled some drainage...
(1 hour, 28 minutes ago)
Man to marry his virtual girlfriend this weekend. Newlyweds will...
(1 hour, 35 minutes ago)

First Look At Xeno Lovegood From The Deathly Hallows
(Nov 21, 09 8:48 PM CST)
New Moon Has Best Opening Day Of All Time
(Nov 21, 09 11:41 AM CST)
Writer Hired For Underworld 4
(Nov 20, 09 4:44 PM CST)
Brad Pitt Producing Dark Void Video Game Adaptation
(Nov 20, 09 4:36 PM CST)

Associated Press

Theater review: Willem Dafoe stars in the absurdist comedy 'Idiot Savant' in...
(Nov 4, 09 2:10 PM CST)
New York City Marathon Results
(Nov 1, 09 12:59 PM CST)
New York City Marathon Winners
(Nov 1, 09 11:25 AM CST)
Indiana judge enters not guilty plea for man accused of robbing clerk after...
(Oct 27, 09 9:49 AM CDT)

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most important stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

'Manhattan Manny' Pleads Guilty in Boy's Sex Abuse

21-year-old babysitter dodges life sentence with plea

Kerik Pleads
Guilty in
Corruption
Case

Plea bargain carries suggested sentence of 2-3 years

MORE ABOUT:
Bernard Kerik • New York City • federal courts • Department of Homeland Security • guilty plea • plea bargain • police commissioner

Man Arrested
for Kissing His
Own Daughter

Italian tourist faces 15 years in prison after Brazil pool incident

MORE ABOUT:
Brazil • Italy • child molestation • sexual abuse • misunderstanding

Female Sex Crimes:
Society's Last Taboo

Gender myths, unreported cases allow problem to persist unchecked

MORE ABOUT:
United Kingdom • women • child molestation • sexual abuse • taboo • pedophilia

New York City • child molestation • sexual abuse • guilty plea • babysitter

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

from our news partners

Associated Press

About

Help

Tools

Site Maps

What is Newser?

'Manhattan Manny' Pleads Guilty in Boy's Sex Abuse

21-year-old babysitter dodges life sentence with plea

Related Newser Stories

Kerik Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case

Plea bargain carries suggested sentence of 2-3 years

MORE ABOUT: Bernard Kerik • New York City • federal courts • Department of Homeland Security • guilty plea • plea bargain • police commissioner

Man Arrested for Kissing His Own Daughter

Italian tourist faces 15 years in prison after Brazil pool incident

MORE ABOUT: Brazil • Italy • child molestation • sexual abuse • misunderstanding

ANALYSIS

Female Sex Crimes: Society's Last Taboo

Gender myths, unreported cases allow problem to persist unchecked

MORE ABOUT: United Kingdom • women • child molestation • sexual abuse • taboo • pedophilia

New York City • child molestation • sexual abuse • guilty plea • babysitter

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

from our news partners

Associated Press

About

Help

Tools

Site Maps

What is Newser?

Kerik Pleads
Guilty in
Corruption
Case

MORE ABOUT:
Bernard Kerik • New York City • federal courts • Department of Homeland Security • guilty plea • plea bargain • police commissioner

Man Arrested
for Kissing His
Own Daughter

MORE ABOUT:
Brazil • Italy • child molestation • sexual abuse • misunderstanding

Female Sex Crimes:
Society's Last Taboo

MORE ABOUT:
United Kingdom • women • child molestation • sexual abuse • taboo • pedophilia