News | Peachtree City

Man gets 5 years for Internet porn violations

Wed, 11/15/2006 - 3:55pm
By: John Munford

A Canton man has been convicted of having an obscene internet chat with an undercover Peachtree City police officer whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Mahesh B. Patel was found guilty Wednesday of two counts of violation of the computer pornography and child exploitation act and one count of obscene internet contact.

Fayette Superior Court Judge Paschal A. English sentenced Patel to five years in prison followed by five years on probation; he will have to register as a sex offender under Georgia law.

Patel, who took the stand in his own defense Monday, said he was merely role-playing with the girl whom he said looked like 20 years old in the photo the officer sent to him. But prosecutor Randy Coggin pointed out that Patel inquired with the “girl” why she wasn’t in school at 9:45 a.m. during one of the explicit chats.

Patel’s attorney, Paul Liston, noted that the undercover officer first made contact with Patel in an Internet chat room that features sexually explicit content and is intended for adults only.

On the witness stand, Patel acknowledged that he was wrong to do what he did, and that he felt embarassment for his family and himself as a result of the arrest.

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Child Molester Pervert
Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Thu, 11/16/2006 - 11:43am.

Why is it that the Pakistani Pervert (or whatever he is) got 5 years and the Youth Pastor Pervert only got 2 years? Now here's the kicker.... the Iranian Pervert (or whatever he is)will have to register as a sex offender while the Youth Pastor Pervert will have his record wiped clean and not have to register at all.

If I'm not mistaken Pappy English was the judge in both cases. Should the law not apply equally to all? Also these two cases were heard in a weeks time of each other. Why the discrepancies in sentencing? Folks it's time we wake up and hold our judges accountable for their actions the same as we do our county commissioners.

If I'm wrong would someone please straighten me out.


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Git Real
christi's picture
Submitted by christi on Thu, 11/16/2006 - 6:11pm.

It could be as simple as he had no defense attorney to negotiate the recommendation down with the DA. Also, most Judges won't give a defendant first offender status unless he is asked to by the defense or if it had been negotiated as part of the plea before sentencing. Hope this helps.


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Thanks Cristi
Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Thu, 11/16/2006 - 6:22pm.

Then perhaps we have a problem with these lawyers who have been judge shopping so that they can a stinky plea deal with a friendly judge. So if we have a judge that isn't capable or willing to be consistent in his sentencing then perhaps we have a bad or incompetent judge.

From what I hear Superior Court Judge Chris Edwards doesn't play the stinky plea deal game with these child molesters and he nails their tushies to wall. No wonder the trial lawyers around here keep trying to recruit someone to run against Chris. Chris won't play their game and it really seems like he's the only judge we have on this circuit that holds the pervert predators accountable.

As far as Pappy goes (setting the stinky plea deals off to the side)you would at least think that he would sentence the predators consistently. Seems like maybe the pervert preacher got special treatment.


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yep, git real
christi's picture
Submitted by christi on Thu, 11/16/2006 - 7:16pm.

Chris has found himself with no one on the docket before. When the lawyers find out it's him, they change their court dates! The thing is, judges for the most part, go with whatever the DA recommends. I wonder if Chris will start doing that as he gets on in his judgeship. The DA's office doesn't want to go to trial, they simply don't have the time or people to do it. So they negotiate a plea deal to get them off the docket. That's when it becomes unfair. Repeat offenders get another slap on the wrist, the same crimes get different sentences. It sucks, but I don't see any end in sight.


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Git Real
Submitted by myword_mark on Thu, 11/16/2006 - 1:34pm.

Where were you when I was raising cain about him getting off lifgt and all the 'Christians' were telling me to forgive and forget....geez.

They should all get a mandatory 20! Add ten to the "preaching Pervert" and the "Youth Molester".

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Git Real Was In Hiding
Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Thu, 11/16/2006 - 1:57pm.

I was quivering in fear of the alleged Citizen Hacker. You know him well don't you? ... the one who was always trying to stir the pot? Eye-wink

Hey I don't have a problem with forgiving these pervert predators. Forgive them but make them pay the penalties for their victimizing our children. 20 is good and I agree. If it's my child I say kill him and if they don't I will. Who in their right mind would convict me for it. After that I would have no problem forgiving them.

Gee My Word. What a switch. I usually get bashed for unmercifully skewering these freaking child predator POS's.


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