Undercover Prostitution Operation Nets 10 Arrests

 

ABILENE, TX — Members of the Abilene Police Department Special Operations Division, began an undercover prostitution sting operation over a two-day period, according to the Abilene Police Department Facebook. The operation began on Thursday, May 17 and ended on Friday, May 18.

The operation, involving an undercover female police officer, ultimately led to the arrest of 10 individuals in the span of the two-day operation.

Day one of the operation targeted an area along South 1st Street. Six male suspects were arrested on day one while meeting with an undercover female officer they thought was a prostitute and pay for services:

  • Lafayette Junies Legrand, 63, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • Robert K. Trevino, 35, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • Jonathan Nathan Valdez, 31, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • John David Portillo, 58, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • James Wade George, 57, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution, Poss. Of Marijuana
  • Arturo Gonzalez, 34, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution

Day two of the operation targeted online prostitution with the cooperation of a north Abilene hotel. In all, four male suspects were arrested while they traveled to a local hotel to meet with someone they believed to be a prostitute:

  • Dylan Thomas McPhee, 26, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • Coronado Martinez, 55, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • Cassisus Alexander Pieper, 32, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution
  • Tovia Paul Grynewicz, 26, Class B Misdemeanor Prostitution

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MjNS, Tue, 05/22/2018 - 08:10

Spending all that time and money arresting guys who are just looking for some action. IMO prostitution should be legalized. Then maybe women in the trade wouldn`t get murdered and dumped in back alleys. Give them access to health care.Restrict their activity to certain areas, but make them safe areas....and yes, I am serious...

It's sad that you would even put such a comment... I almost wonder if you actually re-read your post and thought to yourself, wow that sounded really "stupid". People are violent toward each other regardless of legality, so that wouldn't fix that, for one... For two, a health care card to verify sexual health would be of very little help, seeing how if, "we will call the hypothetical prostitute Jan." Jan, could catch an s.t.d. in between check up's, and still spread that s.t.d. to all of her legal clients until her next check up... By then it is to late, now they all have it, but I guess that the health care card could've prevented it... Just like a pregnancy test could prevent a pregnancy right? And last but not least, a safe place? What every community needs, a designated area where people can exchange money for sex... That's what every parent wants next door. If you want to be somewhere were this is legal, move to Germany. As for me, and many other American's, we would like to see America come out of the trenches of disgust and become great again not just accept the trash and make it legal.

MjNS, Wed, 05/23/2018 - 06:31

You are so opposed to it you resort to name calling? Your arguments are not valid. You are just looking for reasons why you feel your 'morality' should be imposed on everyone. You think prostitutes are trash? People are not trash. Maybe you should pry your mind open a little. I would much rather teach my child about sex and prostitution than have him learn about guns and being a gang member. America will censor a TV program if someone says shit, but have nothing but gun violence on TV every night. God forbid anyone should see a bare breast, but let's show someone blowing out someones brains...that is good viewing.
I have to keep reminding myself that America was founded by Puritans. Shake my head...

Never realized there was a name called... Maybe you should re-read the rant that I posted. Nope do not think prostitutes are trash, they are valuable human beings just like a baby in the mothers womb, but... their profession is trashy. Not sure why you would even subject your child to trashy TV(bare breasts,blowing out someones brains) but hey, some parents do, it is sad but true. I do not understand why you would teach your child about prostitution, it makes zero sense. Children should be taught about sex at an age that is appropriate and before then shouldn't be entertaining their young mold-able minds with filth.Things like that though take a lot of effort on the parents part to be involved enough to care. This country was founded by people who desired to earnestly seek God without fear of death , because even back then people who wanted to live right and follow God had haters.

For those of you who are sickened by the laws in America, there is a thing called denouncing your citizenship, you could go that route and move to somewhere more suitable to the kind of lifestyle you are looking for. Nobody is forcing you to live here with our "Puritanical", Christian values, you know the ones that this country was founded on.

MjNS, Thu, 05/24/2018 - 01:22

I am Canadian, not a citizen, but a legal resident. My husband lives here, so this is where I am.
So if I disagree with you and the law I should move elsewhere rather than speak my mind? One of the things I do admire about this country is personal freedom of speech.
You bet I would teach my child about prostitution...what happens to women and men in the sex trade. It is a sad tough way to live, but I don't get on my religion high horse about it. Why can't anyone have a conversation about anything without dragging religion into it? Working iin the sex trade is a vile, soul stealing way to live. But it exists. It will continue to exist. Legalizing it just might open the door to making it safer.
There is no possibility here of convincing posters here that it would be good for all concerned. I can just imagine the clutching of pearls by most of you...America should just carry on arresting Johns and hookers. It has worked so well up to now. (That was sarcasm, btw, just to be clear.)

We do have the largest population of Christian's in comparison to any other Country, surprise, someone may bring up God. People's who have experienced persecution in other parts of the world have fled to America to escape it in the past, entire families... If you and your family feel so strongly persecuted by us Christians, maybe the general idea is that you may have the desire to do something beside's verbally disagree, but if your convictions aren't that strong then maybe you should accustom yourself to being confronted with different beliefs from time to time... And we like to support our beliefs.

The comment about wanting people of differing lifestyles to move that ''puppies'' made was classic xenophobia. The only thing missing from his post was "this is my 'murrica".

People of little intelligence lash out at things they don't understand. It's not enough to say I don't agree with this or that, followed by a supporting argument, the switch is flipped and suddenly it's "renounce your citizenship" or "you and your sick morals". Hating or lashing out at someone saves them the time of understanding or coming to terms with the differences of others, and validates their ignorance. Very crass and childish.

I am a woman, first of all. Secondly, you should also go and re-read my rant. In order to come to the conclusion that you came to, you would have to twist or distort what I said. I agree with Nate, you don't seem to understand context. Distortion is "crass and childish". When you have nothing of any real substance to add to the debate, you resort to some sad efforts. If you want to support legal prostitution, and avoid laws you don't agree with, is it wrong of me to inform you that you aren't forced to remain here?

I disagree with you Lares, I don't think that "Puppies" rant displayed Xenophobia... There was nothing in the comment that showed fear, hatred, or dislike of dealing with different ideals or belief's... Perception is powerful, but the comment didn't seem to have any undertones to it... At least not that we can point to from anything Puppies said before... By the way, glad to have you on here"Cute Little Puppies", between you, "San Angelo Native" and RR, I'm beginning to feel like I'm not quite so outnumbered.

"Jan" is just as likely to catch an STD and spread it if she gained nothing more than dinner and a movie, and called her outing a "date". Most intimate couples aren't exactly sharing weekly lab results with each other.

I also find it odd, that some of the most outspoken proponents of individual, inalienable liberty suddenly have no trouble with authoritarian intrusion, so long as it's wielded against those whose lifestyles and morality they disagree with. What's more, is that the creep factor of the government and local police interjecting themselves in the sex lives of citizens, seems to fly right over their heads.

I guess if we legalized prostitution, the entire sex trafficking world would collapse and we could all live happily ever after? How deep does your opinion go?
Do you think you could look into the eyes of a 16 year old sex trafficking victim and tell her that same thing? It's ok darlin', in just 2 short years you can legally put yourself out there to be bought and used. "Those guys are just looking for some action!"?

It's not like the majority of these women had great upbringing's and just decided one day in their mid- twenties to sell themselves. This problem starts with those that "demand" the sex trade... You know, supply and demand... And what they want is girls who aren't legal, they will settle for less though. These girls, get targeted very early in life... Don't kid yourself.

One of the worst and most pathetic arguments against legalizing vice for consenting adults, is that it's going to be one of the few, among countless adult oriented activities and services that simply cannot be kept from children. Coming in at a close second, is attributing the vice in question to horrendous crimes or unsavory behavior: sex workers are ALL trafficked teens, pornography destroys marriages and ONLY appeals to sexually depraved individuals etc..

Another disingenuous supposition about sex workers, strippers, is that they almost always come from horrible backgrounds and traumatic childhood experiences. I know plenty of individuals who work or have worked in the adult entertainment industry, who actually enjoy what they do, and none of them have the cliche "abused and manipulated'' sob story that landed them in their horrific trade.

With a legalized and regulated sex trade, these hypothetical people who crave underage sex would still remain criminals as they are today. The main difference would be they'd find next to NO brothel owner willing to jeopardize their livelihood by employing 16 year olds.

Today, anyone of any age can buy a hooker. There are no safety regulations, no health codes and definitely no one keeping your hypothetical 16 year old away from the dangers and pitfalls of an anything goes, illegal sex trade.

Those who understand and recognize the benefits of a legalized sex trade HAVE indeed thought this through. The sanctimonious opponents have done little more than pontificate outrageous scenarios, for their lack of knowledge on the trade and their own personal hang ups regarding it.

Laws are laws, however, and we all have to follow them -- even if we don't agree with them. I'd just like to know how any of us are any better off, for these 10 men being denied a chance to purchase sexual services. How worse for wear would we be, had they all gotten laid that night?

I have not read a single post produced by this guy, that has not contained countless hours of research on words to use from his thesaurus... but zero effort put into the actual comment itself. It is hard to believe that people really agree with the sludge put together, and called an actual intelligent thought. Just goes to show there are a lot of people who will just agree with someone because to them, they sound smart without even a second thought on what was said ... very sad since after all, they can not even come up with anything of real substance, rather just jot down the first idea that comes to mind then put in all the time to find a substitute for some words so they may seem more intelligent. From the comment stated above, "I know plenty of individuals who work or have worked in the adult entertainment industry", that goes to show you must be lying because if you truly knew them, you would know while on the exterior, they may try to convince others that what they do is glamorous, while at the same time almost every one of them are hiding the truth that they are not happy on the inside, after all, degrading yourself, or allowing others to degrade and humiliate you, and suck out every bit of self respect you have for your self, cannot be a truly happy and wonderful, butterfly way of making a living. Your ridiculous ideas of how it should just be OK for adults to pay for consenting sex, goes to show how pathetic your views and opinions, along with many like you, really are... and not because a " personal hang up" or" outrageous scenario" just out of common sense.

Two-thirds of your post was a baseless, accusatory bellyache. The rest was a sweeping generalization with no factual evidence, just hasty, subjective projections of your version of the sex trade. What was it that you said about "coming up with real substance"?

The reading comprehension level for the average adult is around that of a 7th or 8th grade student.

Yes, it certainly is.

You my friend, do nothing but complain and try to get your pessimistic view of the world out for everyone to read, how very childish. If I had to guess, you are a young boy,who has not reached manhood yet, or had any life experience. That is OK, you will grow up someday and understand what the adults on here are saying. It is good that you read, keep practicing you will get better, a lot of people can get past that hill of 7th-8th grade... When it comes to factual evidence I have seen nothing of the sort come from your rants only "bellyaching and subjective projections" what a hypocrite... At least on the side of Free Man Nate, there is a lot of evidence to support his arguments, mankind has been against the bible for years, if it wasn't truly God's word, it would've already been destroyed. Probably because of the convictions of your own heart, do you feel so strongly opposed to hearing it, but that is OK there is forgiveness for you too.

Underage sex trafficking will happen regardless of legality... Caving to the desire's of one's flesh isn't the answer. Just because someone's actions don't have a specific affect on the masses doesn't mean that it has no effect whatsoever. Call it what you want but, we can't even regulate the "snap" food stamp program, what makes you think we can regulate a "legal" sex trade? Oh, wait, it does have an effect on the masses... Disease, broken homes, failed marriages, fatherless children... Let's Legalize It!!! Yay!!!

Human trafficking continues in Germany and they have a legal sex trade... Next question please!

Legalizing sex work isn't a fix-all and it's far from the perfect solution to eradicating underage sex workers, but it would significantly curb the problem. You don't regulate with the delusion of performing miracles, the action is usually a choice among the lesser of the available "evils".

Institutions and entitlements are misused and abused, as are businesses and services. Sure, a handful of people with fake ID's or dishonest store employees are going to contribute to the unlawful use and possession of alcohol, but imagine if any 13 year old could attain a bottle of unregulated booze as easily as they could acquire bag of meth.

Broken homes, failed marriages and fatherless children are the end results of many factors, though no evidence supports the myth of any sex trade overwhelmingly contributing to either of those things. STD's are actually more common among the average casual dating scene than circles of sex workers. Among the REGULATED sex trade, the rate of STD infection is almost non-existent.

Sex Trafficking is a very intersectional and complex issue. After reading these comments, it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to educating the general public in San Angelo. While there is debate whether selling sex should be legal or not, buying sex should always be illegal.

Women in prostitution are always exploited and face violence. If you asked any woman what she wants to be not a single one of them would answer "a prostitute." There is an agency issue in prostitution, WOMEN IN PROSTITUTION DO NOT HAVE AGENCY (this means I do not buy the "two consenting adults" arguement). While it might be easy to say that women in prostitution make their own decisions, they do not. This can be seen through push/ pull factors leading to entrance in to sex trafficking and the mass majority of women in prostitution have pimps, who beat, abuse, rape and exploit them, and on top of all of that, their pimp gets their money, the women do not get to keep the money.

As if the abuse these women see from their pimp was not bad enough, but they also see abuse from their buyer. John Stings are so important to address the elimination of the demand side of buying sex, WITH NO DEMAND, THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING A SUPPLY. Way to go Abliene PD for running a John Sting and publicizing it!!

(For more information/ reading about all of this, I suggest the TVPA, the UN's Palermo Protocol, and watch I Am Jane Doe (on Netflix) and Episode 1 of PBS's A Path Appears, which is on Amazon and Prime members can watch for free.)

That's a pretty broad brush your painting sex workers with. Anyone who's of the opinion that prostitutes are ALWAYS exploited and virtually forced into a world of slavery and abuse, may be the one who needs a little education on the sex trade.

Though you're probably unaware, the laundry list of abuse and traumatic experiences you cited are among the top reasons why the sex work should be legalized and regulated. How many of those horrible crimes do you think happen within the walls of Nevada's Bunny Ranch brothel? Street level sex workers are at an EXTREME risk of danger, as organizations who support decriminalization and provide outreach like WHO and Human Rights Watch cannot come to aid, due to stings like this driving the trade further underground.

Decriminalizing sex work doesn't green light sexual assault and human trafficking. Those crimes would and should still be treated seriously and prosecuted.

I also have to take issue on the inaccurate claim that "not a single woman" wants to be a sex worker. Obviously many do, and are, and most consider the manner in which they're treated and stigmatized by agenda-driven outsiders to be the only exploitive and oppressive forces who are making their lives miserable. The criminalization of the sex trade indirectly subjects workers to prejudicial treatment, not only in within their respective communities, but under the law. That in of itself is criminal.

I am painting a broad brush? It is so very wrong that women in prostitution choose and want that for themselves. Of course, there are always a few exceptions to everything (maybe .01% of women in prostitution). Read the debate between CATW and HRC when the UN was trying to pass the Palmero Protolco.

Unless you inherently believe in the inequality between two people (particularly between men and women), you cannot be an advocate for legalization of the sex trade. As soon as a "buyer" (within the context of the article and all of these comments is 99.99% of the time male) buys sex from a woman in prostitution, those two people are no longer equal. That man owns that woman for a certain amont of time. He controls her. He can make her do whatever he wants her to do (and men do not buy sex from prostituted women just to have vanilla sex, they buy sex in order to fulfill a "need" for a VERY deviant sex act). That does not sound like equality to me. Personally, I believe in equality between all people, no matter their race, gender or creed. Therefore, I believe that buying and selling sex should be illegal.

Lares, I encourage you to read Steven Bales's "The Slave Next Door" and watch Catharine MacKinnon's lecture on YouTube, "Trafficking, Prostitution and Inequality." We clearly do not see eye-to-eye, there is a metaphysical misunderstanding here.

I was beginning to feel like the only one who's actually done any real research into the subject for a bit...

It's funny how you use certain words to make your point Lares... You use the word "indoctrination", when you talk about Christianity... Indoctrination is when, you teach a person or group a set of belief's uncritically... That's not what Biblical Christianity does... In fact, we have to produce quite a bit of "critical" evidences, especially nowaday's, for people to base their decision on.

You use the word, "Vilify", when you defend honestly questionable values... Vilify means to, speak about in an abusive and derogatory manner. You defend shameful ideas and use your words to make it seem as though, these things were never "bad", and any who speak out against them must be trying to give these an "evil" connotation that didn't already exist.

Although I would classify your work in the ranks of a "clever", or maybe even an "articulate" man, I wouldn't put you in the ranks of someone who's work doesn't stink of the foul "indoctrination's" that you've delivered to yourself.

There is a significant difference between a woman who performs sex for an audience, (i.e. porn star) and a prostitute in the sex trade... Generally speaking, a woman in the porn industry sought out the line of work she is involved in... A prostitute is overwhelmingly sought after... She is persuaded through techniques that under any other subject, you Lares, would be condemning in a heart beat... Most prostitutes are coerced into the life. If someone used coercion to spread the Gospel, you'd jump on that like certain "Live" readers jump on your bandwagon. But it's O.K. for the prostitute to be coerced?

It's funny that you condemn my "rants", saying that you feel cheated, that all I provide are "copy/paste" jobs, and feel as though you do anything better.
You can change the words to fit your "style", but it's not hard to look up story's, and forum's on the subject of debate, and see that you rarely post an original thought on your side of things either... You come across as someone who's well educated on many topics of debate, but truthfully, your greatest strength's lie in the use of "Google", to give you inspiration, and the thesaurus to help you "vilify" those who oppose you.

I must agree with San_Angelo_Native, buying sex should always be illegal. No amount of your "indoctrination", will produce enough change to make your vice's, socially acceptable moral's.

As much as you enjoy running around in circles, ranting about Jesus, I had already respectfully declined this dance. When your arguments all begin AND end with "because God says so", I tend to lose interest.

Indoctrination, yes I used the term. You, yourself admitted to finding Jesus behind bars, becoming ''born again'' soon after your stint. Jesus wasn't there, but a few of his self-appointed spokespeople were. They got a hold of you and gave you the ''good news'' from the comfort of your cages and in between parole meetings. Indoctrination.

The fact that you find my values questionable, doesn't make them inherently so. You certainly don't have to agree with me, but then again I don't have to entertain your prejudices and the precepts of your favorite folklore as law.

No, "most" prostitutes are not coerced into the sex trade. How many sex workers have you personally known, to assert this with such certainty? With the internet and the use of social media, modern day sex workers aren't exactly limited to the pimp/prostitute dynamic. A tell tale sign of someone who knows absolutely nothing about this topic is easy to spot out, as their narratives regarding the sex trade sound more like the script of a bad 70's Blaxploitation movie than an account of modern life. Coercion is never good, where its from the pimps on the streets or the pimps behind the pulpit.

You seem to have taken this forum a bit too personally. Overthinking just how in the world Lares acquired any knowledge on anything, or assuming my CTRL C/V buttons are as worn out as yours. Stress or EUSTRESS? There's a term for your search engine.

It's evident that your in the mood for daily pissing contests, something I've no interest in. Issues, debates...all fine. Whining roundabout acknowledgements of your lack of reading comprehension and passive aggressive diversions when substance is lacking, isn't.

Bestiality is illegal too... Are you a proponent of opening "legal" bestiality brothels? It's the same thing, just with an animal... People do it illegally all the time, it would help to curb the "abuse" and make it safer for the animals and humans involved... the government could provide the necessary vet checks.

The same principle you use to justify one thing, doesn't make sense in another application does it?

You don't seem to be a parent... Do you have kids? I reckon not. When you raise a child, sometime's the kid wants to have, or do things, that would hurt him. As a responsible adult, it is natural to say "no", to things that aren't best for your child. If your kid wants to play with a knife are you going to let him? If little Lares wants to be infantilized and have "legal" prostitutes and weed in Texas, we as the mature adults have to set a boundary with him and say, "no, no" Lares, that's not ok. Now Lares isn't going to understand why the thing he wants is not ok, but it's our job to let him know that, even though he doesn't understand right now, it's not in his best interest to smoke pot and fornicate with a prostitute.

There's not a lot of stat's on sex workers period... You can't even point to stats regarding the numbers of sex workers who ranked their profession as something they were "Alway's Satisfied", in, because sex work goes much deeper than you care to think... But why should you care, it's not your life and she "liked" it huh? Really, we're defending morals and values that are thousands of years old and will have to for as long as we are around... Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining Lares...

I can recall when the beastiality comparison was always the outrageous standby argument for those trying to drum up some good ol' fashion homophobia by comparing gay unions to animal abuse. It's not as effective anymore, which is probably why I hadn't heard or seen this type of juvenile deductive reasoning in years.

Funny you brought up knives, as I'm a collector of bladed weaponry, however, just because daddy plays with knives, doesn't mean Little Lares gets to. Little Lares won't be engaging in smoking of any kind, nor will he be formerly introduced to the world of sex workers by his morally bankrupt father.

Little Lares will be informed on the dangers his new world will inevitably present to him, and his better judgement will hopefully steer him clear of things which children aren't emotionally or mentally equipped to handle -- guns, knives, drugs and religious zealots.

I had a young family friend tell me about an instance where he was accosted by a rough looking young man in a parking lot, handing out flyers for the "Outcry In The Barrio" charade. I forget the details, but the bait was a carshow...to be followed by some rambling sermon by one of your "been there, done that" ex con types. I explained to him that usually things, information, and people, for that matter, who have any genuine, redeeming value will present itself as such on their own merit. They don't need to bait their prospective audiences or sneak reading materials under windshields. I'm not sure if he attended the show anyway, but at least he left our conversation with the realization that after he got to see some really cool rides, some tatted up character named something like "Big Joker" was going to preach his ear off.

By all means, keep "defending morals and values that are thousands of years old". While your at it, be sure to never wear clothing with mixed fibers or indulge in shellfish. Hopefully, Nate, you're a perfect specimen of a man, due to the fact that God also hates dwarves, people with skin conditions, asymmetrical limbs and eunuchs (Lev 21:18-19).

Let your female Christian friends know they can't pray while wearing hats, and must keep quiet in church. Of course if the women folk are disobedient, you can always stone them or beat them with a rod, if they object to any of this, remind them that they're not permitted to have an opinion or voice in anything. God wants them to keep quiet!

From the Bible's inception, it's relevance (like every man-made belief system) was on borrowed time. Judeo-Christianity has run it's course, leaving little but a legacy of bloodshed and cultural stagnation in every societal structure that's ever had the misfortune of being under it's influence.

Christianity, along with the other Abrahamic religions are in their final death throws, as the archaic tenets and social norms of the Middle East are in no way applicable to the average modern American lifestyle.

" If I were to write down a rant, and publicly comment a play by play breakdown of a Central Bobcats game, but I did this while applying the rules of the old San Angelo Outlaws Hockey Team... I would justifiably deserve to be called an idiot. In a similar fashion, anyone who parades the content of Leviticus as an argument "against" Christianity should be called the same."

I admit, that was not my writing and I used a reference to San Angelo in the use of sports, but the message remains the same. I use a lot of resources to shed light on topics, but I'm not afraid that any of them are "incorrect" because of that. Lares Deces probably won't look at the link, anyone else may go read the article and decide for themselves, if the proclamation that Lares provided was sufficient enough to do anything, besides make weak minded and ignorant folks who don't do research, believe his nonsense.

In laymen's terms, that old law of God's, in it's proper "context", was meant to be ridiculously impossible to follow... That law is not binding to God's people today. The article I posted a link to covers the subject matter well.

Lares, you have made an existential decision to be against Christianity, don't tell me that you've read the thing from cover to cover to make an informed decision. Don't tell me that you've deconstructed it... that you've come up with all these "reasons" why the bible couldn't be true. You can't name 10 "mistakes" in the bible can you? You've constructed a substructure of fallible nonsense to support your beliefs... That's OK, just don't expect to captivate an audience on San Angelo Live now that I'm here. I'll call you out every time to whatever ends it comes to. I'm a patient and long-suffering man who knows what he's talking about.

Back to the original story, no amount of "talking through your hat" can justify the decriminalization of the sex trade. It's wrong and is not profitable for humanity for anything other than to sate one's lust and greed. I have seen the devastation of women's spirit's firsthand, that's not even on levels deeper than "street prostitution". You can shine a blinding light on one area of a topic quite well, but anyone who has a heart that isn't hardened by hatred can see that these women are suffering, even if they put on their happy face and continue to perform.

http://thoughtleader.co.za/martinyoung/2014/01/27/leviticus-explained-and-why-sceptics-should-leave-it-alone/

Regardless of my level of agreement with Nate and Lares' dialogue, I can't help but think that this is an improper forum for the repeated attempts at proselytizing by our friend Nate. The narrative always seems to drift further and further away from the original topic of the news story, and into some kind of Sunday school for all the heathens. Let me be clear sir, I would fight and die to defend your right to believe whatever floats your boat, as well as your right to shout it to the world. However, a little consideration for those of us who have been to Sunday school and really don't want to repeat the experience would be greatly appreciated. Yes, you can, and most likely will, continue to evangelize on this venue set aside to discuss the news of the day, as is your right, unless muzzled by the editor. Think of the latest rants section as an all you can eat buffet, just because you can eat all you can, doesn't suggest that you must.

The editor must muzzle me... Then I will come by phone... I will use my neighbors computer, no new user will get looked at without suspicion on the day that occurs. I will be a pain in the neck for folks who don't want to hear what we all know I talk about... Lares can smear Live religiously for years and you don't complain, stop crying now. Be thankful that all I'm doing is referring to how I believe in a God of love who gave us a gift we don't deserve... For the Lord's sake man! I'm not strapping bombs to my chest because you're in opposition to my belief's... Focus on a real problem, like the indoctrination of Islam in prisons and on the internet... not the message of the cross that I share... Wait, the message I share is a real problem for many of you isn't it? That's cool, I never wanted to make people happy and agreeable with what I share, and I too sir, would die for your right to slap, spit, fight, and argue about how you disagree... I will also fight the notions and perspectives that get shared opposite of my own, because some fought and died for my right to do so...

You have such an insatiable urge to Jesus-bomb LIVE , even to the extent of using multiple devices in the event you were "muzzled"? Very admirable.

Lucky neighbor, by the way.

Easy there, spiritual warrior, no one's calling for your silence. Hop off of the cross, take a few deep breaths. You'll live to preach another day.

That's why our country is falling apart, we don't want God anymore... Are you seriously telling me that it is "improper" for me to share my opinion on Live when that's all anyone else does? For folks who don't want the Bible, ya'll seem to find your proper place in it. When I preach Christ crucified, Jews get offended, and Gentiles say it is foolishness.

Funny how everyone else's view's are tolerated but mine somehow oversteps that boundary huh?

exactly what your message is. If the radio plays the same song over and over again, I switch stations, as do many others. I'm not criticizing your message, just the forum. I too have issues I feel strongly about, and I have no issues discussing them with people I know are genuinely interested, but most folks don't appreciate a sermon when they paid admission for Star Wars. Your emphatic response, more emotional than previous, suggests I touched a nerve. No harm or disrespect intended.

I guess when God is brought into everyday conversation it gets to played out for some people, since after all it must be a sermon if God is involved right? It has to be true because everyone knows that God our creator, should not be a part of daily lives and conversations, not like he gave us the breath we breathe or anything like that, how dare we speak so highly of him and so little of ourselves, oh wait i think that some people may have that backwards huh.

No harm or disrespect taken, just expressing something I'm passionate about, I do get quite expressive, but not even Lares get's me mad, so trust that I get where you're coming from. I wouldn't have gone down a rabbit hole if there wasn't one created by someone who wishes to slander Christianity and parade sick moral's around for 4+ years... I do apologize, but I also ask for folks to bear with me here... You bore much before me I'm sure. I do try to stick to the topic generally... There is a reason that these John's were targeted in that sting and I support everything that will effect any minor change in the sex trade because it destroys people on both sides... I do personally know someone who was coerced into the lifestyle and trust me, "consent" can come as a result of "breaking" someone's spirit, although you won't hear that point brought up much.

I can relate... I saw a prostitute get beaten by her pimp in the parking lot of a motel right here in San Angelo... Sadly, I did nothing because at that time in my life, I didn't care as long as it wasn't me.

Thing's like that are why I will never be inactive again in situations like that. I genuinely enjoyed reading about your experience RR... You're right to say that it's not a matter of judging the people who do wrong things, but it is important to be that change in every way possible, where you are, with what you have.

I believe these things line up with the word as well. I honestly do enjoy these stories RR... You have a valuable bit of experience that is worth sharing.

MjNS, Thu, 05/24/2018 - 01:29

Is my reaction to Nate every time. I scan his post, see the 'God' rant and move on. His constant ranting about religion is a bore...

Thanks Nate! Glad to be a part of "Live". I've never liked to see people who bully others with their points of view because someone disagrees. The same one's who want people to listen and respect their views are the first people to attack when someone challenges those ideas. People can't believe that we don't just blindly accept their ideas. I think it's because all throughout history there have been people who are opposed to the idea that there's a God. If God exists, then people are accountable for their lives based on what he says in the bible. It's easier for them to deny him and do their own thing. Live fast and die young. That's why I said that if the bible wasn't truly God's word, it would've been destroyed. Many have tried to erase God in the past but they haven't succeeded. He must be God. It's like these sex workers we're talking about, it's like, if they don't value themselves, then it's OK for us to not value them either, and that's not right.

My apologies ma'am, regarding my mistaking your identity. I think the discussion on this thread veered way off topic. If you re-read the posts here, you'll see that until Nate, with all his "enthusiasm" wanted to turn this forum into Sunday school, no one was dragging religion into the exchange. I get it, Nate's found a new toy, probably made some new buddies in the process, however, the constant Bible banging and preaching becomes a bit much for the average reader. I'm not saying he should censor himself, rather reflect on the ineffectual manner in which his thoughts are presented and thereby overlooked when virtually any and every topic he touches on is attached to a miniature sermon.

When the religious rhetoric becomes this heavy handed, it ventures into an entirely different class of annoyance. That's not a personal attack on his faith, it's a fact. We're not all fans, but that's ok.

I'm under no delusion that everyone here agrees (or should agree) with my opinions and lifestyle. Differences of opinions are a good thing. True, we're free to "renounce our citizenship" and immigrate elsewhere when the going gets tough, but not only would that degrade us to the level of lesser nations, it would be relinquishing the ideals of freedom and liberty that ALL of us cherish, in one form or another.

I'll blend my 2 comments together here... I agree with your main point about suggesting folk's move, I get that people want to see change come to American laws and culture, rather than go somewhere that the culture and laws already exist.

Main Point- To a great deal of American's, letting go of the "rigidly" held moral's and value's, to us, would be the equivalent of "relinquishing ideals, and freedoms." It may seem to many, that the "Churchy" folk's just want to deny everyone who doesn't adhere to the same belief system, the right to behave in a manner that correlate's to their own ideal's. I may be "heavy handed" [although I prefer to consider it passion] in many of my endeavor's to bring God into the culture and debate, I respect free will. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what our laws say, if a man want's to get a prostitute, or smoke some herb, the law is not going to guarantee that he won't, or that those who supply those things won't be there to provide service to the seekers.

It is difficult to discuss moral's and value's but equally important, I believe there is a stronger reason to have these values than there is to support their diminishing any further. You tend to side on preferential and subjective selection. I am under no delusion that "I" can change that, but I do believe that if you honestly start over and re-asses some of your belief's, you would find something different at work in the world. I am constantly looking at "why" I believe what I believe. I constantly research the new and exiting discoveries that support what I believe... I also look at the philosophies and religion's that are different than mine, so I can understand them and avoid being unable to relate. Lares takes a similar stance to minds such as, Friedrich Nietzsche, and maybe Richard Dawkins as well.

Aside from that, I love Cajun Food as well... I don't know if it is still there, but we did have a place in the little Tinseltown plaza that was Cajun themed, but I was no fan of their food. If somebody was to do it right, I think a Cajun Restaurant would do well.

Back to the topic at hand, I understand the principle idea of your argument for decriminalized prostitution, but I think the basic truths that can be seen and addressed about this issue in relation to humanity veer much more in agreement with the majority of those who believe it is wrong even if some are content to live that way. I have no problem talking about these thing's but if someone says that I'm wrong, of course I'm going to defend, through worldly based reason, and biblical doctrine... That is after all, what I believe in.

You're welcome Puppies.

I accept your apology, thank you. It can be hard to tell on media, I feel sorry for the man who's name is cute little puppies.
I did re-read the post's here of Nate's and it seems that he kept the enthusiasm curbed well. There were references that he did make but if you go back and look, from the beginning of the conversation, it's not like he's really behaving in the way that you portray. "Bible banging, Preaching, and Heavy Handed Religious Rhetoric, Sunday School, Mini Sermons, and Dragging Religion into the exchange." Is that an accurate description of the terms that you used to describe his comments on this specific thread? I mean, seriously, what makes the few way's that Nate points to God so wrong? I have been following "Live", for a while before I started my profile and feel like your view on Nate's rants could readily be flipped back your direction, you do spend a lot space on the rant section yourself, subjecting not just your "like minded", buddies, but everyone to your view, and your blatant hostility to the general mention of God. Am I wrong? I do see that what Nate says is true, you've been doing this for at least 4 years, how quick you are to point your finger when for just a short time Nate has given his input. Think it through, while I also respect differences of opinion, it's not exactly like you're not guilty of doing the same thing as Nate and longer too, just you have been on the opposing view's side of things.
We don't have the freedom and liberty to "sexually purchase" another human being throughout this country. There are a few places that are a minor exception to that rule, but there are reason's it hasn't changed. I don't see how leaving a country because you don't agree with law's and policy being "degrading", or as being something that would label us as being a "lesser nation".

My second choice for a screen name here, was "Cute Little Kittens" -- not really, but I do really dig cats.

https://sanangelolive.com/news/live-thought/2014-09-29/trap-neuter-return-step-right-direction

I think you're correct, in you're reminding me that I've been quite outspoken on my views on various subjects, however, the difference being I don't correlate the subjects at hand to a religious tenet or belief system. An opinion or stance on a given subject should stand (or fall) on it's own merit -- in my opinion anyway. When people are involved in a debate or discussion, and one of the participants decides to wear his religion on his sleeve, it tends to divert from the intended discourse. I'm not saying Nate, or others should stifle their convictions, rather be prepared for them to be challenged, at best, or outright ridiculed, at worst.

Nate posted a really informative piece on firearms, the laws regarding "carrying" and some of the things we all should know before using deadly force. I found it as easily digestible and enjoyable, as some of our LIVE friends find my articles/rants when I search my thesaurus for alternative layman's terms -- again, I kid!

I think this thread's been beaten like a lazy hooker, so I'm going to respectfully bow out for now. Thanks for the exchange 'Puppies',

Have a great weekend everyone, and remember to spay/neuter your free-roaming cats.

I have a momma cat and 3 kittens that stay outside and aren't fixed, and of course a whole neighborhood of unfixed males... Called around, and shy of paying for it myself, I can't get a response about if they would qualify for TNR. I do feed them, and I put flea/tick collars on them but can't afford much else.

Concho Valley PAWS had a $25 voucher program, every 1st Saturday of the month. They'd start selling them at 9 am, but the lines were always crazy, so we'd get there early. I'm uncertain if they still run the program, it's been a while since I've gone. I did TNR a while back and those vouchers were very handy.

I don't know if you ever noticed where you live, but as strays are removed, others eventually move in. TNR not only keeps neighborhood strays from reproducing, they keep their "territory" and (most of the time) keep new strays from moving in with litters of their own.

Yep, it's been about a 3 year ongoing problem... My wife saved and hand raised some kittens that were birthed in our garage and we've been dealing with the continuing offspring for a while now... I've grown accustomed to giving shot's and even had to remove a treble hook from the belly of one of the original kittens a few years back... I went to pet him and felt what I thought was a clump of burrs in there... Turns out this crazy dude climbed up a tree that I had been using to hang "Drop Line" fishing rigs... Apparently, he had to chew through the "tarred" nylon string I used to rig them up to let himself down from the tree.

Needless to say, I felt horrible and after I was able to snip the barb off and pull the hook back out of him... I moved my rigs. These hood cats are all the way Texan's, don't need much to make it and don't complain about anything besides food... And maybe the loose dogs.

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