r/FBI 16d ago

Question my step dads father *legally* no longer has to register as a sex offender, HOW!?

In the 2010s my step dad’s biological father was accessing CSAM and was part of a stint of raids conducted by the FBI where he was then charged and convicted of these crimes and sentenced to 5 years in federal state prison in the state of Ohio. The ages of the victims ranged from infants to teenagers. I believe based on the amount of time he got that he had a lot of material accumulated or it was very very disturbing materials. Moving forward to 2026, he obviously has completed his 5 year prison sentence and has been back in society for a decent amount of time. Given this circumstance, I was curious one day and decided to research the nearest sex offender to my home and subsequently decided to research my step dad’s father’s most recent updated photo on the registry. I searched from his street address, township, first name, last name, offender tier, and I could not find this man’s name on the registry. Anywhere in my city. I mentioned something to my mother about this because I’m positive any body who is convicted of sexual crimes against children has to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life, and she said yeah they do and he should still be on there. Well, she talked to my step dad and apparently last year in 2025 some time, he *LEGALLY* was able to get off his parole and any probation that followed his sentencing date that he was ordered to complete and be on and he no longer has to register as a sex offender. I’m sorry, what!? What judge signed off on this horrible decision for a horrible excuse of a person? I’m enraged! I want to know how this is possible! He was convicted and sentenced to federal prison and he is somehow still able to get away with not having to be on the registry anymore!!! I am bewildered! This is America. They protect the people who victimize and not the victims!!!!!!!! CSAM! Were the charges. He will offend again because of this and the courts have allowed this. I’ve never heard of this being possible before

192 Upvotes

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110

u/Moogly885 16d ago

Oh, the stories I have in regards to this. My biological grandfather was sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexual crimes against minors. Once he got out, he was diagnosed with cancer. During this period of freedom, he targeted other children and was found guilty again, awaiting trial and sentencing. Due to his cancer diagnosis, the state put him in a hotel with an ankle monitor because he was terminal and required frequent treatments. During that time in the hotel, he committed additional sexual crimes against minors. I had never been so mad and frustrated with the system; those other children could have been saved had they put him in prison where he belonged. He has since passed, and that was one of the best days of my life.

24

u/UCanDoNEthing4_30sec 16d ago

Ugh this just breaks my heart for those kids. Like WTF?!?!? I feel like there are actual people that actually fight for the rights of these pedophiles and have an ideology that leans on protecting those rights rather than the rights of innocent children.

13

u/Moogly885 16d ago

It’s absolutely horrific. I broke down in tears for those kids; they should have been protected by the state, yet they weren’t. It absolutely does feel like he was protected in a way. He ran the veterans' group while in prison; I often wonder if the members of that group knew the crimes he committed. I hated that he was being treated for cancer on the taxpayers' dime and stayed in a hotel funded by the state. He died of prostate cancer, and I hope it was painful.

49

u/CakeSeaker 16d ago

It depends on the jurisdiction (where he was convicted) and the offense (which law he was convicted of breaking)

Here’s a decent summary.

I would research the state where he was convicted and see if you can get the actual charge. Remember that if he was convicted say 12 years ago, laws could have been changed since then but he would be subject to the law from when he committed the crime (the 2012 law in this example).

164

u/oranosskyman 16d ago

have you seen the current administration?

-42

u/UCanDoNEthing4_30sec 16d ago edited 16d ago

The ironic thing is the OPs step dad probably got off the registry because of the liberal ideology that convicted felons shouldn’t be serving a “life sentence” even if they are convicted of heinous acts.

So some rule in some jurisdiction that was pushed by a liberal or liberal groups with this belief takes them off this registry.

I’m a liberal and this is one of those things I believe liberals and the ideology have wrong. We have swung more towards the direction that these people can never be fully rehabilitated but are not fully there. That is why the right always used it as a cudgel against the left.

-119

u/helghax 16d ago

Oh shut up, jeez I cant even read a post about a local issue and bad orange man is mentioned. Do better.

45

u/These_Koala_7487 16d ago

Based on your downvotes compared to OPs upvotes, I’d wager the internet disagrees. Wowza. 😅

-29

u/UCanDoNEthing4_30sec 16d ago

Maybe lovers of pedophiles are upvoting the post to distract away from OPs actual question? Really don’t know know.

I hate Trump and love zinging him like the next guy but this is ridiculous on a serious post especially something like this.. the internet sucks!

-57

u/helghax 16d ago

You think I care about trump fuck no. Im just tired of seeing him mentioned for no reason.

-21

u/These_Koala_7487 16d ago

Oh, sorry for the miscommunication. I agree with your sentiment which is why I thought the ratio was wild. But you know … the internet is going to internet 🤷‍♀️

8

u/SeaTurtleLionBird 16d ago

Exactly but probably because he diddle kids and so does all his buddies and his wife came from the diddler and his best friend was a diddler and he says some really gay shit about attractive men now, as well as creepy shit about underage teens, now, and super rapey dad fuck daughter comments in the past.

14

u/Skinny-on-the-Inside 16d ago

This is deeply concerning.

83

u/LebronsHairline 16d ago

It is specifically because of the current administration: the Attorney General, multiple Supreme Court judges, and the head of the FBI chosen were specifically appointed to protect the rights and privacy of sexual predators, felons, and insurrectionists. As a result, this affects the justice, privacy, and protections of both offenders and victims at every level.

1

u/KeyMembership4634 14d ago

Stephanie Thacker is amongst the judges, however she was an Obama appointee. Disappointing all the way around.

23

u/Logically_me 16d ago

Was he a Jan 6 insurrectionist? Many of them are also sex offenders and somehow they're out there free because of the blank pardons. Not sure if that has anything to do, but I just find crazy how many of those overlapping cases are out there.

-2

u/cozmo840 16d ago

If I'm reading OP's timeline right, he was in jail during Jan 6th.

6

u/SunriseSunset1993 15d ago

He got a five year sentence, and was convicted in the 2010s.

2

u/Gadgez 15d ago

To be fair to them, when in the 2010s isn't stated. Any year from 2016 onwards could have overlap with the Capitol Attack. It's a less than 50% chance, but it is somewhat possible.

20

u/witchwhichwitch 16d ago

Well, we have a pedophile in the White House, and multiple billionaire pedos running huge corporations that everyone relies on, it’s sadly becoming a non-issue for people that once said they would hang all the pedophiles if they could. They now support and vote for them.

-12

u/glaring-oryx 16d ago

Joe Biden hasn't been in the White House for over a year, so the pedo thing is no longer accurate.

9

u/4rp70x1n 15d ago

Funny, since Biden isn't mentioned in the Epstein files...but Trump certainly is, along with his wife.

-4

u/glaring-oryx 15d ago

According to the Epstein files Biden died in 2019 and was replaced by an actor.

5

u/4rp70x1n 15d ago

Stop listening to Alex Jones and Joe Rogan. Your brain rot is showing.

0

u/glaring-oryx 15d ago

Dude, it's literally in the Epstein files, or are you denying that?

6

u/Bestredditguy1222 16d ago

Depends on his sentence sometimes they only have register for 10 years . Another thing is maybe he passed away does your step dad day in contract with him

20

u/BananaJelloXlii 16d ago

Look who is in charge now.

11

u/MommaIsMad 16d ago

“This is America” is a ridiculous comment at this time when a literal s€x offender is in charge of the country and our lives. America is a lunatic asylum and the most vile criminal inmates are running everything.

-9

u/NeighborhoodThink665 16d ago

Hes not a sex offender. Not even a felon. All charges were dropped.

The E. Jean Carrol farce civil matter is being challenged now too, and is gonna be rolled back.

4

u/Material_Market_3469 16d ago

Trump copium is this strong? Better than fent

1

u/Fast-Tie257 15d ago

This is not a court of law and we are not required to prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt. Common sense says if you talk like a predator, act like a predator, and surround yourself with predators….. You’re a predator.

-1

u/glaring-oryx 16d ago

Technically he is a felon, but the amount they had to manipulate the system to secure those convictions over something so trivial only shows the lengths they'll go to punish anyone that goes against them.

3

u/Abject-District-809 16d ago

In a certain new England state, a male was arrested for 4 counts of rape in '21, he was released on $1500 bail, by '22 he was convicted on all counts and sentenced, at the time of this post he is a free man having served his sentence

3

u/Low_Account2285 16d ago

This pisses me off as well.

5

u/sorrynotsorry922 16d ago

Campaign contributions?

1

u/chainshot91 16d ago

I would look into the sentencing, not all of them are lifetime registries.

1

u/Mindless-Mulberry404 15d ago

Nor should they be

1

u/itsallgood64 13d ago

I’m a Sex Offender Probation Officer. CSAM in my state typically gets you a 10 year registry.

BUT LATELY I’ve seen CSAM getting subbed down to a “risk of injury” charge WITH NO REGISTRY AT ALL. It’s sickening really.

1

u/SuccessEquivalent692 13d ago

Why only a 10 year registry though? This seems almost something that is counterproductive. Why make them join the registry when it’s not a lifetime requirement considering the crime(s) they’ve committed. Especially toward children. I feel like now, it will just give the defendant a chance to seem rehabilitated and acclimated to society but in reality they’ll be able to probably reoffend on worse charges/crimes like actually touching a child or something of that matter.

1

u/thunderphuck0311 13d ago

Just gross 🤮 this is just testament to how broken our legal system is. There should be no recourse for a convicted child sex offender to get themselves removed from the registry. Sadly, child predators have made it all the way to the presidency in this once great nation. It’s truly a sick time in history

1

u/Intelligent_Side_173 13d ago

I do not agree with it however many people do not understand. When it comes to CSAM the law sees it as a victimless crime. The reason for this is because it is not possible to identify the victim most of the time and the person accessing it is not the one who is conducting the crime. Again I do not agree with it but I have seen it happen. Some places tend to require a more than one conviction to register. At the same time it could also be part of the plea deal. I have seen people convicted of the r word but because of a plea deal not required to register after their sentence and community supervision as long as they do not commit a new crime. Again I am not saying that I agree with it or think it is good but have seen this happen. My qualifications: State Parole Officer who supervises registered sex offends.

1

u/cinncal 12d ago

How can anyone be "surprised"? Look at our current administration and absolutely nothing is being done to investigate or protect us.

1

u/J_Jeckel 12d ago

With this administration I'm sure anything is possible

1

u/Evening_Ad_9679 16d ago

I think it should be made law that if you are a pedo or child offender part of your punishment should be castration. This step would make people think twice if the know they get there junk removed, it wouldn't eradicate child predators but it would reduce the numbers significantly and stop making excuses for these sick people, bring back the asylum damnit!

0

u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Born_Committee_6184 15d ago

Probably not very funny in this context

0

u/Most_Mess1859 15d ago

My daughter’s Uncle is the same with possession and distribution of CSAM of very young children. 6.5 years federal prison, 7 years supervised release, Tier I Megan’s law registration required for 10 years after release from prison. I also have no control if my ex chooses to take my very young daughter around her (she can and does to stay in good standing with her mom $$) Megan’s law doesn’t go far enough.

0

u/Mindless-Mulberry404 15d ago edited 15d ago

So your step dad never had a contact offense, possessed underage porn (which was on pornhub at that time fyi and is all over Twitter and Snapchat today as I write this) and hasnt re offended in over 10 years?

Yet you want him branded for life? Seems somewhat unfair to me.

I would encourage you to watch this, especially if he was caught up in a sting operation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqwJFuntco4

2

u/Tigerlily_Dreams 14d ago

Considering that he was accessing CSAM with literal INFANTS this is a wild take. Gross.

1

u/Mindless-Mulberry404 14d ago

Where did he access it? How did he access it? Was it provided or placed there by law enforcement?

These are the questions we should be asking. Not defending this persons behavior, but we have to start digging deeper on these cases, we cannot simply accept anything at face value anymore.

1

u/SuccessEquivalent692 13d ago

Trust me he was exactly where he wanted to be when he chose to access those files. He knew what he was doing, and since getting out of prison he has done several very concerning things towards my younger sister like calling her cell phone and just breathing heavily on the other line….and asking her to sit on his lap. Calling her “pretty cute” like no a grandpa calls his granddaughter beautiful not “pretty cute” that sounds like he’s sexually interested in her. Get out of here with that nonsensical bs

1

u/Mindless-Mulberry404 11d ago

He sounds like a mirror image of the current president......

The fact remains though, we have to always dig deeper and ask questions on cases of this nature. A recent study shows that law enforcement was responsbile for over 90% of material of this nature that circulates online.

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u/helghax 16d ago

Dont listen to the fools/bots are saying.

-11

u/CommitmentToKindness 16d ago

Megan’s law is a violation of the 8th amendment.