Hello, I have been a member of this community for well over 2 years and been a somewhat active poster. I have created another login to ask for help, because as soon as I get help I am going to delete this id and never speak of this again.

Two weeks back, I had an appointment at the radiologist for a follow up to a procedure I had. I scheduled 3 hrs off from work and by some miracle, I was finished in 1 hr. It was a beautiful spring day so i went to Great Harvest, got a smoothie and the newspaper. I then went to the park do waste time before going back to work.

I parked and sat at a table and started to read. I noticed right away 2 college aged guys wandering around. 10 years ago, I was somewhat active in the 'cruising' culture but havent felt the need for this since then. I assumed these guys were gonna hook up.

Much to my surprise, the better looking of the two wandered over toward were I was sitting and smiled and waved at me. I was stunned thinking this hottie was crusing me a middle aged man.

I continued to read and when I looked up he waved at me again, I waved back and he came over to the table. He asked me if I was looking to hook up and I told him I wasnt looking to do anything at the park. He asked me if I knew this was a crusing spot and I said it was 10 years ago so I imagine it still was. He asked about my work and told me geeks turned him on. He told me he was horney and asked if I had a place to go. I told him i had to go back to work and he asked me to go down to the river with him. I said no. He continued to pursue and I told him i wouldnt do anything here but maybe we could get together for a beer or something after work.

He said that was cool and he asked me if i wanted to walk down the path and talk some. I admit I was getting off on being cruised this heavily by a young guy and said sure. As we started to walk i noticed the other guy started to walk in that direction also. My first thought was shit I'm gonna get rolled and I told him I wasn't comfortable and was gonna leave. He then uttered to words I have heard in my brain everyday since "Police, put your hands behind your back"

They walked me over to a truck around the corner. Were very polite and quick. Called in for warrents (I have NEVER been in trouble with the law before) and issued me a ticket for 'Loitering with intent'.

I paid the fine the following Monday and I belive the matter is closed.

Now for the help -- I have been obsessed since this has happened. Every time the phone rings or there is a knock on the door, I am convinced it is the police and my heart races. I was on my way to work one morning and say two police cars on the road leading to my complex and drove around the block to make sure they werent on the way to my house. I havent slept more than 4 hrs a night, only been to the gym once and only for 1/2 my routine. I skipped a planned date with a guy I really like and havent called him since.

This has affected every part of my life. I alternate between shame and embarassement to serious self hate because I foolishly thought this guy actually wanted to cruise me a middle aged man and my vanity got me in trouble.

Questions:
1) Has anyone else been through this? How do I get this behind me and continue on? Some days are better but the bad days are very bad.
2) Has anyone successfully challenged one of these in court? I have already paid my fine and due to my job (TV) publicity would be problematic. But the more I think about it the more I realize that a) I didnt go for that purpose and my foolishness caused me to continue and I was played like a fiddle and expect I was going to ticketed regardless of what I did.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

REmarkable.

Call me stupid, but I fail to see the crime in this here. You didn't do anything illegal. "Loitering with intent..." Intent to do what? All you were doing was talking to some guy that happened to be a policeman. It's not like you got solicited in a bathroom (a la George Michael). Hell, he came up to you while you were sitting at a table reading. This whole thing reeks of entrapment. What real crime was committed here?

Sorry you have to deal with this bullshit...no offense to copman on here, but policemen never seem to be where you need them...however, they seem to multiply where they aren't wanted or needed.

Sorry this had to happen to you, but thanks for sharing -- if it makes you feel any better now I'm paranoid about getting entrapped too, tho I never hang out in any likely places. I guess the moral of the story is that if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

I thought the police had ended this practice years ago??? :mad: What's the story??

Send me a PM and I'll see if I can get you a referral to a local atty. who handles these types of matters.

Quite frankly, this was the kind of sh*t that was supposed to end with Lawrence v. Texas, and it sounds like a good case of entrapment. You did NOT approach the officer, you did NOT suggest any inappropriate behavior, and it was the officer who kept escalating the situation, not you.

I realize that publicity is not what you are after, but IMHO this is nothing but blackmail. As I understand a similar controversy in the Commonwealth of Virginia, because the act of private consensual sex cannot be illegal any longer, suggesting to someone to go to a private place, or agreeing to that suggestion - as you did - cannot be illegal either. That, at least, is what is under contention in the most anti-gay state in the Union, which still is operating the kind of sting you were caught in.

If there is any way to fight this without getting too much publicity, I think you should. What is really needed, however, is a reverse sting operation. It seems to me a few hidden mikes on reporters posing in the same way you did - in order to attract the entrapping officers - might be a good way to embarass the police for running the sting. If you are in TV, there may be ways to fight back without ever bringing your name into it.

Good luck.

Get yourself a good lawyer. You were framed. This does indeed still happen, despite any recent court rulings. You did nothing wrong. They did do something wrong. Any chance they recognized you from your job? That may have prompted their urgency and desire to frame you. I hope you sue the shit out of that agency and may the officers involved in the frame-up be doomed to a horrid existence of desk work for the rest of their career. I wish you all the best...fight the good fight!

[ March 15, 2005, 12:34 AM: Message edited by: millerbeach ]

Sounds like a setup to me. Please keep us informed on how this turns out, and the rest of the story. Perhaps a good chat with a counselor/therapist may be of some help as well. Good luck and hang in there.

Vanity - Be sure to check your PMs.

Thanks Scottie, I did and appreciate your words and help.

I have infact contacted an attorney referred to me by a long time friend. I am seeing him tomorrow. I have also made an appointment with a therapist at the end of the week. Will let you know how it all goes.

Thanks all again

Same advice as from Scottie, but check out these two sites for the SF and LA gay bar associations, many of whose members have special expertise in defending these obvious setups. Good luck! BALIF LGLA

IANAL. I am not a lawyer, so I have no legal advice to offer. Let's stipulate that your description of events is accurate. In that case, my immediate thought was that this is entrapment pure and simple. My second thought was, "fairy-shaking again?"

Fairy-shaking is the term for a practice engaged in by Washington DC's MPD, or Metropolitan Police Department. A few years back, it backfired, resulting in a scandal and a few resignations. The names are now coming back to me. Soulsby; yes that's the fellow. Google is your friend....

Sex, Crime & the Capital

The Fairy-Shaking Scandal

Doesn't help you much, other than to point out the obvious, that this practice is, or was at one time, common.

Hey, here you go. It's the link to the article at the Washington Post. You young'uns will enjoy this.

Chief's Friend Accused of Extortion

Damn, this pisses me off! It's too bad they are cops or else I'd offer to kick their asses for you.

No one should have to go through this crap. I like CPT's idea of a reverse sting operation. I'll volunteer my services.

I wish you the best vanity, and hope you find help and support to get you through this.

I don't know what success you'll have with the legal issue, but I still think you'll be fine. It's a traumatic thing now but you know deep down that you did nothing wrong. Good luck.

I could be a little late on this post but I just discovered this thread with my current insomnia. THIS IS BS. If Vanity were a chick and the same thing occured could he issue her a ticket? I DONT THINK SO. A cop acts like he is trying to pick you up and you get the ticket. WOW.

And what the hell is loitering with intent. Pretty soon we'll get tickets for farting.

Oh and Vanity, don't be hard on yourself that's the result they want. They want all of us to feel week, helpless and self destructive. Don't let it happen.

By the way, an Ohio man took a case like this to court and won. I read about it someplace. They had a recording of the conversation and there was nothing there.

[ March 29, 2005, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Thom ]

Vanity: I would suggest you still contact an attorney and see if you can rescind the payment of the fine. I would suggest a "deferred' prosecution approach. -You only admit to guilt if you commit a similar crime (but's it's not a crime- I agree with you) within one year of the offense. Most County Attorneys will agree if the suspect has a clean record and there was no victim or restitution needed. Clark County is overwhelmed with court cases- I can't believe that they (either City of LV PD or Clark County Sherrifs) have a sting going on at a Park. I can only think that neighbors have complained or kids socceer teams are there- or the policeman are just huge homophobes.

[ March 30, 2005, 06:45 AM: Message edited by: Eastsidewa ]