19-year old kidnaps, strips, and sexually assaults 6-year-old girl...he blames the girl.

[Cali_Democrat]

Posted: 08/02/2013 2:03 pm EDT

An Indiana teen accused of molesting a 6-year-old girl told cops "it was her idea," according to a police affidavit.

Caleb Cooper, 19, faces charges of child molesting and criminal confinement after allegedly kidnapping the girl from a playground near his New Castle apartment, WBIW reported.

Police say Cooper approached a group of four kids --including the victim and her older brother -- on the playground and started talking about his "new kitten" before grabbing the 6-year-old and dragging her away by the wrist, the Indy Star reported.

The other three children banged on Cooper's locked door, and when he wouldn't open it, they started knocking on neighbors' doors for help.

The responding officers found the girl naked in Cooper's bedroom. She told them Cooper kissed her, took her clothes off and tried to have sex with her, according to court documents obtained by WISH TV.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/caleb-cooper-molests-girl-says-it-was-her-idea_n_3696594.html?utm_hp_ref=crime

[ZombieHorde]

1. Those kids are heroes, in my opinion. nt

[FSogol]

5. Agreed. Hopefully a future Ariel Castro was stopped here. n/t

[lolly]

13. Wasn't that exactly what he said too?

That the three girls he kidnapped and enslaved wanted it, that it was his wife's fault he hit her, etc. etc.

Yes, if this guy isn't kept under supervision until he's too old to cause any trouble, he will do some serious harm.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. +1

[raccoon]

22. +1000 nt

[Grateful for Hope]

2. "Blame the victim" at its lowest.

There are no words.

On edit: I agree that those kids were heroes.

[Faygo Kid]

3. She's lucky to be alive. Get him off the streets.

I don't care what his problems are, he has forfeited his right to live in any community with children.

Oh, and it's OK if the 6-year-old has a couple of older brothers or cousins that are college football players, too. Big ones.

[hollysmom]

4. I have always felt that pedophiles need to live in a no children area

let them assault each other, but never see a child again. And control internet access in that town!

[MADem]

27. I think they need an island, and no access to boats.

Preferably a shark-infested shore, that will prevent them from swimming for the mainland.

Set them up in a community, and make it a life sentence.

There is just no cure for that. They never seem to stop.

The only other option is to sever their achilles tendon so we'll know them by their limping, and their slow pace will allow small children to run away...

That's .... but only just.

[branford]

28. What do you have against sharks?

Otherwise, I generally agree, The is no cure for what ails the deviant in the OP.

[Brigid]

6. Disgusting piece of filth.

And he actually expects anyone to believe it was a six-year-old's idea? Seriously?

[Harmony Blue]

7. What a scumbag

this guy is dangerous if let loose again.

[GiaGiovanni]

8. "It was her idea"

A 6-year old, huh?

[Butterbean]

11. Common response from sex offenders. My mom works with them. n/t

[GiaGiovanni]

16. Just unbelievable

It's like that Castro guy calling the repeated rapes of his captives "consensual."

[sheshe2]

10. I am going to be sick now. nt

[Raine1967]

12. This wasn't his first time:

from the link:

Officers also noted that Cooper said, "I'm so stupid, I can't believe I got caught doing this again." He then added he had just gotten off "parole" for "having sex with another kid" when he was 14.

He needs to go away for life.

Those kids were courageous and smart.

[meow2u3]

14. I've heard of rapists blaming their victims

but to blame a 6 year old for her own victimization, as if a small child seduced him? Lock him up and throw away the key! Extreme pervert!!!!

[tnlefty]

15. Ariel Castro, is that you?

n/t

[niyad]

17. I am not, generally, a physically violent person. but. . . if this digusting waste of skin and

oxygen were to meet with some random violence, would not upset me in the least.

[freshwest]

18. It's getting tiresome, isn't it? And will get worse before it gets better.

Never on the steet again, is what I'd say. The charges don't look harsh enough. I don't know why anyone isn't taking this more seriously. If the other kids hadn't alerted anyone there's is no telling what liberty he would have taken.

[branford]

19. There are no words . . .

I am a liberal and consider myself a peaceful man. I am also an attorney who sincerely believes in compassion and the sanctity of the legal system to avoid the rule of the mob. However, as a man, I am necessarily flawed. If this piece of pedophiliac social refuse were to be left to the tender mercies of the general population of the local prison, with all that would entail, I would sleep soundly and with great satisfaction.

[Marengo]

25. Interesting...You default to torture rather than treatment and rehabilitation

Not at all progressive in my opinion, but characteristically American I suppose.

[branford]

26. Note that I admitted that my initial thoughts were not in accord with my usual political beliefs.

Men (and women) are flawed emotional creatures, at times we are hypocritical and reason does not always prevail.

The sexual assault of a young child is once such instance where my id rules over my ego. I make no apologies for my revulsion to the predator in the OP. If such thoughts did not even cross your mind, I would be both surprised and horrified. Disgust and desire for severe punishment for the rape of a child is also certainly not just an American phenomena. I doubt pedophiles fare much better in prisons in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa or Australia. Your tone implying Americans are less civilized is, quite frankly, offensive.

I have also never seen any reliable evidence that violent pedophile predators are even remotely capable of successful treatment or rehabilitation. Do you have any comprehensive studies that offer different results?

[NuclearDem]

30. Backpedal all you like.

You just stated your sympathy for violent assault and prison rape.

How the hell does that not make you as bad as this asshole?

[branford]

33. Who's backpedaling? Not I.

What sanctimonious garbage! Do you really believe the fact that I have no sympathy for the likely prison tribulations of a (repeat) sexual predator of a six year old girl makes me no better than the perpetrator of such unspeakable acts? Really??? Be careful you don't tip over with all that self-righteousness and hyperbole.

I will not be shamed for my feelings of outright disgust, which I may add have been similarly shared by others on this thread. If the thoughts that I expressed publicly did not even cross your mind, your are a likely a liar or a sociopath devoid of human empathy. Our justice system is not equipped to properly punish this perpetrator's level of depravity, no evil. This girl's and his other child victims' innocence can never be returned, and there is no evidence that any therapy could render him suitable to rejoin the civilized world.

I'm glad the judicial and penal systems attempt to mitigate our bases instincts. I simply will not shed a tear if the system fails to protect this pedophile. I am a liberal, I never claimed to be a saint. Both my sympathies and liberal political energies are best directed at those more deserving, such as victims of violent crime or those offenders who can be rehabilitated.

[NuclearDem]

34. You're right, sorry, I saw red and I flipped.

Kneejerked when I should have just kept quiet.

Again, sorry.

[branford]

37. No need to be sorry, friend.

As I stated in my initial post, I understand, and share, your belief that prison should be its own punishment. Our system is intentionally designed to curb our baser desires for revenge.

However, few things are as shocking to the conscience as the repeat sexual assault of multiple children. We are human, anything less than revulsion for such acts would be abnormal. Murder does not even generally provoke the same level of outrage. I was just willing to openly state what many others were likely thinking.

We all must pick and choose out battles and prioritize those causes we hold most dear to our hearts. I simply cannot muster any sympathy for such a human animal.

Have a great night!

[Marengo]

38. What, in your view, is the proper level of punishment?

[branford]

40. That is both a very good and fair question.

As I stated previously, I am well aware of my baser instincts, as well as the need for a judicial system that prevents mob rule and vigilante justice.

The proper judicial sentence should be life without any possibility of parole. He should never be comforted by the hope that his liberty will ever be restored, and his final breaths should be within prison walls. He is still human, but if convicted, he has unmistakably forfeited the most basic elements of human kindness and material comfort. Food, shelter, medical care, exercise, reasonable family visits, the prison library, and little else, should provide him any succor.

This pedophile will also likely need to spend the remainder of his days in protective custody, i.e., solitary confinement. Regardless of my lack of sympathy or your outrage, his life expectancy would be measured in hours if he were released in the general population. This would not, and should not, be part of his official sentence. However, it is well understood by most civilized individuals, including hardened criminals, that the risks incurred in engaging in repeat acts of violent pedophilia are severe.

[Marengo]

43. Your feelings of disgust are not the issue...

It is your stated admission that you would take some form of pleasure if this individual were to suffer extra judicial punishment in what amounts to torture.

"If this piece of pedophiliac social refuse were to be left to the tender mercies of the general population of the local prison, with all that would entail, I would sleep soundly and with great satisfaction."

THAT is what is disgusting. It was neither necessary nor in good form to declare such a thing in this environment.

"Both my sympathies and liberal political energies are best directed at those more deserving, such as victims of violent crime or those offenders who can be rehabilitated."

Were the fellow in question be subjected to the "tender mercies" of your imagination, would he not be a victim of violent crime? Beatings, rape, and what ever other things you find satisfying being not being officially sanctioned by law or acceptable practices in the progressive view of incarceration, it would seem to me he would then become deserving of your liberal energies.

[branford]

46. As I stated to a another poster, what sanctimonious, self-righteous garbage.

As evidenced by the other comments on this thread, this offender is at best loathsome, at worst, unrepentant social refuse. In my opinion, he has most generously forever forfeited the right to rejoin civilized society and be touched by human kindness.

I make absolutely no apologies for stating my mind and offering an opinion that is likely shared by most, but not spoken of due to some misplaced guilt. I face and acknowledge my demons. I am a liberal, not a saint. We are human, and if you claim that such thoughts did not seriously cross your own mind concerning a man who repeatedly, violently and sexually violated such young children you likely are a liar or a sociopath devoid of human empathy.

Let's also have a dose of reality. I will not serve on any jury at his trial or be the judge responsible for his sentencing. Society's basest instincts, including my own, are rightfully and properly constrained by the judicial system. He will, or at least should, be protected in prison. A fate far better that he truly deserves. No justice meted out by the hand of man can exact a proper and adequate punishment for the depravity that he has perpetrated. Prison will have to suffice. The purported "tender mercies of my imagination" are but wisps in wind. Your offense at basic human nature is ludicrous and futile.

And yes, if he were attacked in prison, it would most certainly be unlawful and I would support the prosecution of the offenders. I would not, however, dwell on his misfortune or employ any personal efforts to seek justice on his behalf. Life is fleeting. We all must pick and choose out battles and prioritize our most important causes. There are far more worthy individuals, including young offenders who will rejoin society and I hope become productive citizens, that warrant my attention. If you wish to advocate on his behalf, good luck to you.

You also claim that, "It was neither necessary nor in good form to declare such a thing in this environment." I believe that honesty and forthrightness fuels productive debate, particularly with respect to potentially life and death matters in our criminal justice system. Would you have me and the other posters on this thread lie simply to sound good and not offend your sensibilities?

I also am not quite sure about the "environment" to which your refer. Would that be the rage people feel that such a heinous series of crimes were allowed to occur, that many feel that our criminal justice system does not adequately punish sexual offenders and pedophiles, or maybe that even other liberals like myself do not feel their energies should be wasted on someone who has no chance of rehabilitation or redemption?

I am truly glad that someone such as yourself is looking out for this offender's interests. It ensures our system functions properly. I know that I certainly could not be that person.

[B Calm]

20. and he just got off parole for having sex with another kid. . .!

[99Forever]

23. There are a few crimes that make me...

... want to reconsider capital punishment, messing with kids is the main one.

Lock this POS up and never let him out again.

[krispos42]

24. Jail. Forever.

Kick out a dozen potheads arrested for possession of a joint, and throw this fucker in there until the flesh had rotted from his bones.

This is the shit people need to be in prison for, this is the shit the cops need to be enforcing.

[riqster]

29. Life. At hard labor. On a chain gang.

That way, he can contribute to society for the first time in his life. And, yes, he would suffer.

[Douglas Carpenter]

31. crimes like this make me feel very, very sad

I understand the motive behind some types of crimes - perhaps even most types of crimes. I can at least imagine why a person might rob a bank or physically assault in even murder a tormentor. Not that I approve- of course not - But I can conceive of the motive. Not that I think that is acceptable - but I can imagine that some people simply respond that way. But kidnapping and raping a six-year-old is not only heinous - I find it so sad. Why would anyone want to? Clearly a person who would want to - is not right. A 19-year-old who not only wanted to but acted on it - there is something fundamentally wrong that goes way beyond the issue of making bad choices. Most people have never made a choice not to kidnap and rape a 6-year-old because the idea had never occurred to them and they would be repulsed at the thought. What is it that makes someone - especially someone so young to even want to do such a thing? It can't simply be that they are evil. I'm sure even most evil sociopaths have never even considered kidnaping and raping a 6-year-old. There is something not right here. And it is very sad.

[branford]

35. I applaud your desire to see the good in men.

Nevertheless, I disagree. Evil exists and you saw his picture in the OP.

You also correctly observe that even the most hardened, repeat criminals would not consider harming a child, no less commit a sexual assault. There is a reason why sexual predators of children are often quickly killed or severely assaulted by their fellow inmates.

[Douglas Carpenter]

39. well we don't know that especially when we are talking about a 19-year-old

whose own brain is far from complete in its development. Although certainly kidnapping and forcing oneself on a 6-year-old does put him in the more severe range of even child predator pathology. If the evidence shows and I do believe that it does that a person does not choose at least in any conscious sense to have such impulses. Then we are in the range of behavior that is way beyond simply making bad choices. Only a small minority of people have ever resisted such a temptation to do such a thing. Because only a small minority of people have ever experienced even the slightest fleeting desire to do such a thing. - Thus - I am left with concluding, "There but for fortune go you or I."

[branford]

41. You appear to be a very generous and forgiving soul.

However, violent, repeat pedophilia is not a simple lack of maturity, bad judgment or youthful impulse control issues. The offender did not rob a liquor store, shoplift, drive drunk, or even kill in the heat of teenage anger. He sexually brutalized multiple children.

It shocks the conscience so thoroughly that good men abandon reason and seek revenge over justice. I even admit to such shameful retributive impulses. To violently take the innocence of a child goes against who we are as a species. It is, quite literally, the abandonment of civilization.

I certainly do not have all the answers. I do know that no therapy has thus far proven even remotely capable of curing what ails violent pedophiles and even hardened criminals are so shocked by this conduct that they will generally kill or maim pedophiles placed in general population.

[NuclearDem]

36. This is why I generally hate the bloodlust levied against criminals

Especially sex offenders. It's easy and comforting to just portray people as monsters and otherize them, but it doesn't help us get at the root causes of their criminal behavior. People don't turn into child molesters, murders, or rapists over night.

[kestrel91316]

32. He needs to be locked up for about 30 years, if not life,

since what's wrong with him you can't fix.

Next time he'll kill so there won't be a witness. He probably would have killed HER if those other kids hadn't raised a ruckus.

[ConcernedCanuk]

42. I'm gonna make some people angry here

.
.
.

When I was taking care of a 7 year old girl of someone elses,

I heard her crying in the other bedroom.

Went to her room, asked her what was wrong.

"I miss my mommy, can I sleep with you?"

I tried to console her but she wanted me with her,

I thought it was just having another person close that would settle her down so said OK.

She snuggled up, then . . .

no - not going into detail here, but SHE made moves on me

nothing happened - I wouldn't let it.

Didn't kick her out as she was very distressed, but put pillows between us and would let her hold my hand when she wanted to.

Yes, there are young people out there that crave affection, regardless how they get it.

Obviously, from whatever she saw/heard in her home, that was the way.

I'm not suggesting that this is the case regarding the OP

But there are children that do as he claims.

I was 43 at the time,

just a wee bit more responsible than a teen.

ponder it.

CC

[Sheldon Cooper]

44. Nevermind

[Brickbat]

45. I hope you reported it, because that's learned behavior in a 7-year-old.

Someone's assaulting her, and she thinks that's what normal affection is.

[ConcernedCanuk]

47. No I didn't, never crossed my my mind to do so.

.
.
.

remember, this was 20 years ago - no internets for me to be privy to this kind of behaviour.

She was already on some sort of medication, for one moment she would be happy as a lark, then go totally maudlin.

Also, I was taking care of her other sister and 2 brothers - quite a challenge for a bachelor who never had kids of my own.

But I loved those kids as if they were my own, and 99% of the time we had great times together.

Only dated their mother for a few days, but me and the kids bonded almost instantly.

So when the mother wanted to go on a trip, I got to take care of the kids,

wasn't really a babysitting job, I Never asked for a dime - didn't want it.

Those kids were happier than pigs in doo-doo on the farm I was renting at the time,

took the whole gang camping a few times by a river and they could run around free.

Taught 2 of them how to swim there.

Only met one of them in the last few years, they are all over 25 now, and moved on.

My only regret is that we did not keep in touch.

But the oldest was only 12 last time I took care of them,

the youngest was 6.

I miss that time.

CC

[Rex]

48. Horrible, but at least he did not kill her too.

He was probably only a few steps away from murder. Poor 6 year old girl, that sick fucker needs to spend a long time in jail thinking about how he wronged a child.