Guys, I’ve got to comment SciFake, as well as Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson for not only bringing this to everyone’s attention, but for taking action. And I admire the actions of Mr. Steckler as well.

But I am in total agreement with everyone that something has to be done to prevent this from happening again. Just as I told Jason in a private email earlier, this may be the first time it has happened to a TAPS Family group but it is NOT the first time it has happened in the paranormal field. This is the fourth case that I know of in a year or so. There was one previous one in Illinois and two in England.

Groups, please start doing background checks on your members! I don’t know about other states but in KY you can get a thorough background check for $20.00 . And all you have to do is require that fee up front with the membership application. It’s better to do that than end up in court because one of your members abused a child!

Again, hats off to all involved here!

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that was supposed to be “commend”..not comment in that first sentence. I apologize for the typographical error.

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I am glad this issue was resolved so quickly. I give kudos to the man for stepping down. My question would be, why did he think it alright to do this type of work in the first place? According to most state laws, sexual predators are barred from doing anything where a child is present. I assume he had enough knowledge of the field, to know he would be involved with children.

Moving on to my second point, witch hunts serve no purpose. As with this man, there are two sides to every story. The justice system is by no means, fair and many innocent people are convicted every year. I will be forthright and state that I have a federal conviction. (I hear the gasps already) but would you gasp if you learned that my conviction was based on a drunken nite in my service to my country in the armed forces wherein I was thrown into the back of a pickup truck passed out and didn’t know a thing until I was awaken by the police who had pulled over the truck being driven by my buddies who threw me into that truck? I gave up drinking that very day. Is my crime of grand theft auto, such that I am not allowed to pursue the passion of research in this field? Is my crime such that I can not enter a home and partake in an investigation? I do not believe so and I will continue to investigate, regardless.

There is also the fact that many on this technology, choose to use screen names. I am one of them. NOT because I am hiding something, but because of the predators out there. I don’t know any of you. I don’t know what your capable of doing. So I choose a screen name to protect my family. Too much information is readily available for those who seek it. If I use a fake name, that information would be incorrect and my family is protected. If you put my internet screen name into a watchdog type website, you would find many instances of federal crimes, non of which involve children, but federal just the same. The next thing you know, I’m branded and it isn’t even me!

This cause is very important and I back you 100%. Just be very sure that your information is correct. Too many innocent lives could be ruined and families torn because of one small detail not checked. Cross your T’s and dot your I’s and then double check again. Thats all I have to say on the matter.

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MountainDew:

When it comes to your conviction / crime, I think Jason said it best on the other article in reference to this case:

“…We can not in good conscience send in someone with a charge of any sort…into someones home.”

So no offense to you but yes your crime is such that you should not be allowed in others’ homes to investigate. And although I appreciate your service to our country, you should have thought about the consequences before you decided to get drunk. And you, just as the individual in question here, should be held responsible for your actions. No client wants a convicted criminal in their home, whether it be a conviction for grand theft auto or a sex related offense. Crime is Crime.

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True, this type of crime I could not forgive. Because I respect this website I will not tell you what should be done to people who do things to kids. It’s worse than telling people you don’t fake anything on TV. (sorry cheap shot) On the fake names, that does no good at all. With what is out there you can back trace any e-mail to the street it came from. I check emails all the time when someone wants to work for me. Address and resumes don’t match that shoots up a red flag.

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Although this individual did the right thing and had the balls to post here..
We can not assume that he is the only one out there, as was brought up before there have been others and odds are there is others maybe not within the TAPS family but in the field of the paranormal
Everyone that reads these articles is encouraged to HELP us here at sci fake spread the word on this issue, post links to these articles on this subject
Ron will agree with me as I am sure Jason would here, we need to get this out there
We must protect our kids future clients that want to be investigated deserve not to have the added worry that they may be inviting a criminal into their homes
this isn’t about a zillion hits for sci fake its about protecting those that might fall victim
Hoping all will do there part and spread the word
For this issue is far scarier than any ghost would ever dream of being

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Jim, you have a right to your opinion. My conviction was bogus from the start, my only crime is getting drunk. How many investigators are guilty of getting drunk? Can you say you’ve never been drunk? I was victimized as much as the person who had his truck stolen, not only by my ex buddies, but by the court system. So while under normal circumstances, your opinion would be taken under advisement, I will have to pass. It would seem that even a Judge agrees with my conviction being bogus as he expunged my record long ago. The trouble is, there are some that believe they are above the law and ignore that expungement and my conviction can and would show up in some federal data bases. The point being, my crime was bogus, my conviction was bogus and I have paid my dues. Last I checked, once my dues were paid, that was the end of the story. My crime was not severe enough to warrant having to pay my dues again, over and over just because some refuse to forgive and forget.

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this is not the first sex offender to be found in a paranormal group and TAPS has turned away groups before who have had sex offenders in them. It is true that the TAPS organization should be very concerned about sending sexual predators into the homes of people under their banner. I think the comparison to being drunk and committing a sex crime against a child ridiculous. However, a group has the right to ask for background checks of their members regardless of the severity of the crime that will be exposed. I suggest the groups pony up the cash for it to ensure compliance.

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I agree that sexual predators should be labeled as they are a group of people with the highest numbers of repeat offenders, however other crimes like mountain dews as a one time offense and something he didnt play a part in besides being physically there shouldnt have to suffer the consequences the rest of there lives. Every day people make stupid decisions all the time some serious some not so serious to say all of them should have to pay forever even after they pay there dues admit there mistakes and show genuiue remorse is bull****. That line of thinking and treating people convicted of most crimes (mind you im not talking about career criminals that repeatedly choose to disregard the law, but the people that make stupid mistakes once or twice but realize it and try to change) with the attitude like Joe (sorry not trying to make this personal just make a point) tends to actually lead to more crimes committed as these every day people that made a mistake have to turn to other means to live due to them not being allowed back into the “world” so to speak. My brother-in-law is a convicted sex offender because of some stupid crap involving fake IDs and the police threatening the young lady with jail time for not pressing charges. When he got out of prison (he was sentenced to 7 years and he did his time, but still has to register and does to this day) he had a few setbacks with drugs and what not, however for the last 2 years he has been clean and works for himself and every year his business grows to the point he is turning down contracts every day due to him not having enough time. So my point is yes people make mistakes, however not everybody will continue down that road and people can change for the best, however I still believe strongly not only as a parent but a rational person due to the facts that sex offenders need to register so the communities they live in are aware.

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I agree with Mike. Comparing sex offenses to one time non violent crimes is stupidity. Mountain Dew’s crime is nothing compared to molestation of a child. As I said before, just because you are a paranormal investigator and join a team doesn’t mean you need to put on the preachers outfit and the collar. If you have paid your debt to society and are NOT on paper or having to register as a sex offender, you should not have to be judged by anyone. People make mistakes and should not have to pay for non violent crimes for the rest of their lives.

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You can’t juxtapose GTA and sexual abuse for there is on comparison. I am not judging you or the sexual offender as a person; however, sexual abuse is a horrific crime!

BUT, I agree the justice system is NOT fair and sometime people (men and woman) are labeled as sexual offenders just for kissing a person under the age of 18. Yes, high school sweethearts one turned 18 and the other is still 17 and he goes to jail for making out with his girl! Stupid and silly!

One person wrote an email telling me if you urinate in public in this town you can be labeled as a sex offender for being obscene. How many of us have urinated in public? I have!!! Pulled of to the side of the road and did my duty. It’s crazy!

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This scifake thing, alleging the discovery of a sexual offender, is most likely a hoax. After all, they aren’t even disclosing the individual’s name, which not only suggests unauthenticated information, but also keeps the unsuspecting and vulnerable public from knowing who to stay away from. For all I know, he could be the next person to sign up for my group! Shame on scifake for propagating a teaser/hoax.

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Maybe you should get your head out of one’s ass BOB and start paying attention. Scifake owes you nothing and kudos to scifake for getting the word out.

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Bob, we did expose the name and I would suggest reading the previous article.

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I guess that whole blog where the guy actually came in and admitted to the whole thing just slipped past your intuitive investigative skills? Or, maybe it was the part where Mr. Tebo announced the guys name on the video that slipped past you? Could it be you just missed the part where he told you where you could go to check it out that was too much for your brain to soak in? I guess all these strong suggestions to do a background check on your people in case he DID show up, went over your head too? Damn, I hope this is not a testament to your paranormal investigative skills or we’re all in trouble!

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LMAO! OMG that is too funny dude. Great job!

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God help ya if you get started on paranormal unity groups, you won’t be able to shut me up! lol I just call em like I see em. We may disagree, but I don’t have a problem admitting when I’m wrong, IF there is proof that I’m wrong. Coming in an calling something a hoax with ZERO evidence is just plain stupid, especially when there is a TON of evidence to the contrary.

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Especially when it’s obvious the offender stepped up to the plate and made the admittance right here.

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Heh heh heh …
Mountain Dew gets a plus point in the credibility column…

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