resurrectionsong

June 02, 2003

Keepin' the "Ass" in Massachusetts

A 24 year old woman who was living with her parents discovered that her father had been secretly taking nude and semi-nude pictures of her over a five year period. These pictures were taken from a Web cam in the woman's room. No charges will be filed, though, because no crime has been committed.

"I found hundreds of pictures of Crystal," he said. "There were no photographs of her with clothes on. In every single one she was partially dressed, or getting undressed, or doing something undressed."
Crystal says she still can't believe that her father won't face any criminal charges for taking the pictures and now the computer and all the images are back in her father's possession.

"That made it even worse. That made it 10 times worse," Crystal said. "It's like being kicked twice. I didn't believe it."

So, in Massachusetts (and, to be fair, I'm betting that this is the case in many states), there is no law to prevent voyeurism. The father gets to keep all the nude pictures of his own daughter. I understand, but really don't like, the way this ended up.

I'm thinking that, if this young woman has a boyfriend, he needs to pay her father a little visit. I'm also thinking back to something a friend of mine said in situations like this: "No jury of my peers would convict."

Read the story.

Posted by zombyboy at June 2, 2003 12:00 AM | TrackBack

Comments

what a sick bastard!

annie [coolcon@yahooey.com]

Posted by: A visitor at June 2, 2003 06:56 AM

There was an episode of "The Practice" that was similar to this (years ago when the show was still good). Do you remember it? The super in the building of the really hot receptionist (Marla Sokolov) was the perp. There were no laws against what he did. They ended up getting him for theft because he "stole" the electricity for the camera that he set up in her apartment. Even that legal wrangling wouldn't work in this case. I think that you hit the nail on the head when you wonder how many states lack similar protection against voyeurism.

By the way, thanks for the quote.

Posted by: stmpjmpr19 at June 2, 2003 11:59 AM

Annie, I was disgusted at the thought that he wanted naked pictures of his daughter. I can't even imagine how screwed up you have to be to do that.

SJ, I was thinking about that same episode, and I couldn't remember how it had turned out. Thanks. I'm going to try to find out if Colorado does or doesn't have a law covering that eventuality. If it doesn't, it needs it, and I'll be sending of a letter to the Governor.

Posted by: zombyboy at June 2, 2003 05:26 PM

What's worse is that MA has one of the strictist laws regarding taping your own phone conversations wthout telling the other party on the line. So effectively, you CAN'T use surveillance to prove what someone said to you on the phone, but you CAN to spy on people while they're getting changes. Unreal.

sama [rsama@pobox.com]

Posted by: A visitor at June 4, 2003 04:32 PM

I recently became aware of this issue, and since then it has been popping up in lifetime movies, the daily news and friends' lives. It's just a fact that our laws have yet to keep up with our fast rate of progressing technology. I found this website searching for petitions or activist opportunities to get these changes to happen quickly and soon. Does anyone know where I can sign a petition or support laws to be passed SOONER than later in MA?? Thanks.

Posted by: Crystal at October 12, 2003 11:54 AM