Oklahoma Video Vigilante Uses Drone To Wage War Against Prostitutes and Johns (bbc.com)

HughPickens.com writes: Chris Baraniuk writes at BBC that Brian Bates, known in Oklahoma as the "Video Vigilante," is taking credit for Amanda Zolicoffer's conviction on a lewdness charge after being caught on Bates' drone mounted camera in a sex act in a parked vehicle last year. Zolicoffer was sentenced to a year in state prison for the misdemeanor while the case against her alleged client, who was released following arrest in December, is still pending. "I'm sort of known in the Oklahoma City area," says Bates . "For the last 20 years I've used a video camera to document street-level and forced prostitution, and human trafficking." Bates runs a website where he publishes videos of alleged sex workers and their clients. "I am openly referred to as a video vigilante, I don't really shy away from that," says Bates adding that the two individuals were inside a vehicle and the incident occurred away from other members of the public. The drone dropped to within a few feet of the vehicle where it filmed a 75 year old in the front seat of the white pickup truck. The duo separated after Zolicoffer, who was identified by her tattoo saying "Baby Gangster," saw the drone hovering overhead.

Comments

Re:Going voyeur...

[SuricouRaven]

Some states also have very strict laws against investigating suspected animal abuse in the meat industry - the lobbying is strong on that issue. After a series of scandals in which horrific conditions in farming and slaughtering food animals were exposed, the industry responded by pushing for 'ag-gag' laws to deter any further activists from trying to sneak a camera in.

Re:Not so much about morality

[Tony Isaac]

Here are some references. The US State Department estimates about 21 million human trafficking victims, of which about 20% are forced into the sex trade.

https://blogs.state.gov/storie...
http://www.unicef.org/protecti...
https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campa...

Re:Good Grief.

[Anonymous Coward]

Is Frosty Piss your real name? No.
Do you associate identifying information with your account? No.
Are you an anonymous coward with a vanity name? Yes.

Re:Not so much about morality

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you need to reread that. Of the 21 million human trafficking victims, 20% are forced into the sex trade. What happens to the other 80% - whether they're forced into domestic service, as labor elsewhere, or turned into soylent green, is not specified.

Re:Going voyeur...

[_Sharp'r_]

There's more to the story with a police arrest record which isn't mentioned in the news stories:

FEBRUARY 9–An Oklahoma man who has gained national exposure for his “video vigilante” campaign to expose street prostitution in his hometown was arrested yesterday for allegedly paying hookers to ensure that they serviced customers in an area where he could easily film the illicit trysts.

According to the below Oklahoma City Police Department report, Brian Bates, 34, orchestrated the public encounters so he could peddle the resulting videotape to media outlets (some of Bates’s surveillance tapes are offered for sale on his web site).

In his dealings with prostitutes, Bates was choosy, investigators contend.

For example, if a john was a “regular,” Bates asked prostitutes to give “specific signals” so he would know not to bother rolling tape. Investigators also noted that, like any good auteur, Bates “gave direction to the prostitutes on how to complete the act with a high probability of success,” as well as tips on how to spot an undercover cop.

Bates was hit with a felony pandering charge and a misdemeanor count of aiding in prostitution. The pandering rap, which is usually reserved for pimps, carries a minimum two-year jail term, and a maximum of 20 years in the stir.

The more you know about the true story behind a reported news story, the more you learn the "news" is typically at best clueless and at worst 100% in the wrong direction.