Betrayal - Avaya | Ashley's Story

Episode Date: June 8, 2023

Jason learns his sentence.  Avaya reveals the struggles she faced at home after Jason was arrested. Ashley, at her most vulnerable, faces Avaya to express her regrets. Then, experts explain how child... sexual abuse material has become ubiquitous.   If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com.   To report a case of child sexual exploitation, call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST  If you or someone you know is worried about their sexual thoughts and feelings towards children reach out to stopitnow.org  In the UK reach out to stopitnow.org.uk See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high. And the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right.
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Starting point is 00:00:59 to be. Listen to Atonement, the John Polk story on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, men promised to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all? I sat down with psychologist, Dr. Steve Poulter, to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name. Part of the way through the Valley of Despair is realizing this has happened, and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward. Our two-part conversation is available now.
Starting point is 00:01:35 Listen to the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. Topics featured in this episode may be disturbing to some listeners. Please take care while listening. He's so poorly. Me and my mother, it was unfair and it's rude, and I don't want any other child that ever has to go through that ever. I'm asking for you to send it.
Starting point is 00:02:03 I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is betrayal. Episode 4. Avea On our last episode, you heard the sentencing hearing for Jason Linton. He pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of voyeurism. His stepdaughter Avea made a plea to the judge to send him to prison. Would Jason go to jail or be set free?
Starting point is 00:02:44 That decision was in the hands of Judge Metler. Okay, thank you, everyone, for your input. I've been thinking about this for a while. This is a tough one. And the court makes decisions concerning sentencing. The court really is balancing ways in which the victim can be made whole, which frankly, it's pretty unusual when the victim can truly be made whole. Rehabilitating the defendant is an important factor,
Starting point is 00:03:09 and then, of course, punishment. Child pornography is a horrible thing, and a victimized so many young girls and boys and it's terrible. But the voyeurism charges here are really serious. The position of trust that you help with respect to your stepdaughter violating that in the way that you did, I agree with Mr. Sutton. They really take this case to a different level
Starting point is 00:03:32 and warrants some pretty significant punishment. Okay, so for the crime of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, courts would impose a term of Utah State Prison, not less than one nor more than 15 years, and for each town of boyers in both class A misdemeanors, courts will impose a term in jail not to exceed 364 days. Courts going to order the two voyeurism counts, one concurrent to one, other and consecutive to the prison sentence imposed on the sexual exploitation of a minor count.
Starting point is 00:04:01 And on the second and three felony, court's going to suspend that sentence and place Mr. Lim on probation for 48 months to be supervised by AP&P. To put it simply, Jason got less than a year of jail time for both voyeurism charges and would need to register as a sex offender. Less than one year. How is that even possible? I really thought this type of crime carried a hefty prison sentence, but that's not the case.
Starting point is 00:04:26 We'll get into that later on in the episode. Not to mention, the one to 15-year sentence for sexual exploitation of a minor, it was suspended, meaning he wouldn't need to serve it if he doesn't violate probation. After Judge Metler rendered her sentence, an officer came and handcuffed Jason. He was going immediately to Salt Lake. county jail. Now, Avea, the victim of his voyeurism, could start to catch her breath and not
Starting point is 00:04:56 fear seeing him out and about, and Ashley could really start to rebuild, but nothing would be the same as before Jason was arrested. We wanted to see how Avea was doing after Jason was sentenced. So about a month after the hearing, I met Ashley and Avea at home in Riverton. So nice to be going. Nice to meet you guys. Yeah, of course. Do you guys mind just talking into the microphones just so we can do some level checks? Bup, pop, bop, bop.
Starting point is 00:05:25 Just kidding. Okay, your turn. Bup, bop, bop. Great. It was really nice to meet Avea face-to-face. She's Ashley's mini-me, though she's taller than her mom, but everyone is taller than Ashley. What struck me about Aveo was her confidence and her maturity. She seemed wise beyond her years.
Starting point is 00:05:47 And I just wanted to remind you that her court-sponsored therapist supported her participation in the podcast. And she was open with her feelings, starting with Jason's sentencing hearing. So, Avea, when I talked to your mom a few months before the sentencing hearing, she didn't think you would go to court. But it looks like you changed your mind. Why? I had really thought about it. And so when I went in there, I had a whole bunch of things.
Starting point is 00:06:14 I wanted to say to the judge and to Jason, and I wanted to at least try and make an impact on it. I didn't want to be just like a bystander, don't want to just do nothing. Before he got locked up, I'd be laying in bed some nights, and I'd just sit there thinking, like, I hope no one's out there, you know, someone's looking, someone's creeping. Like, you get that feeling, you know? But ever since he's gotten knocked up, I haven't had that feeling. I'm really happy you haven't had that feeling, because that must have been really scary. It's hard to imagine not feeling safe in your own home, and I really don't know how you processed and navigated that as a teenager.
Starting point is 00:06:50 None of us knew how to express our emotions because we were all so sad, but we were all, like, yet so upset about what had happened. And we still loved him. Yeah, we still loved him. Like, we felt like it was wrong, too, because we were like, we were like, oh, well, he was our dad. Like, he was my dad. Like, I loved him. Like, I loved the guy that he was, but, like, I don't know who this is. I'd put him so much trust into him because my dad.
Starting point is 00:07:14 dad wasn't there. And so he had taken on that role of being my dad, so I had trusted him so much. And I had really let him into my life. And I was just morally mad, though, that he had torn up our family, like he had broke our family. And he had, you know, hurt my mom and my brother and my sister. And what he did to me, I was definitely, I was pretty hurt about. A lot of your family members mentioned to me that you were a serious soccer player. But this whole experience, just made competing impossible. What happened there? At RSL, you have to have good grades to be on the team no matter what.
Starting point is 00:07:53 And you can't miss more than two days of school. Like, there's some new rules and things like that. And if you're going to an athletic school, you're going to be around some cocky-ass people all day. But there was some cool people. Yeah, I mean, yeah, there was some pretty awesome people there, but having to get dressed up every day. You know, that was really hard for me. And so I was so overwhelmed with everything. that I just, I didn't want to be around people.
Starting point is 00:08:19 Yeah, it sounds to me like you just needed a breather. So you switch to an alternative school. And just to be clear for people listening and just to make sure I'm understanding it right, all that means is it's a school that educates kids differently than a typical public school. Ashley, I know you had a lot of dreams pinned on Avea soccer. Were you on board with her leaving? Was that hard for you? I mean, we definitely struggled.
Starting point is 00:08:48 Your whole life, we've had like this one plan. Soccer. Scholarships. California. California. But I guess what I'm hearing, and I didn't realize, I mean, you don't want to be around all those people, and then they knew this awful secret, you know?
Starting point is 00:09:05 It wasn't just like one thing. It was kind of all of it was so piled up on you that. Yeah, yeah, definitely. The reason why I wanted to go to Valley was it was a way better alternative for me. I was succeeding a lot more. I was on honor roll. When you go to an alternative school, too, people are there to get their shit done. Like, there's people that are there that have kids and they're sitting in the daycare.
Starting point is 00:09:28 Like, we have a daycare at our school too. Like, we'll have people that have kids and they'll go and do some homework. And if you could show up and with a messy butt in your hair, no makeup, no one would care. That's another reason why I really like Valley, too, is because it's like a really not-judgmental area. kind of felt like I just had to trust what you were doing. Even if I didn't think it was like best choice, you know? Like I wanted you to play soccer. And you're a beast. Yeah. You're amazing on the field.
Starting point is 00:09:56 Yeah. You know, and I get that like your passion for it's not there anymore. I get it. And you also have a job, right? I work at a daycare. I'm an opener. So I get there at 6 o'clock in the morning. And I basically watch kids from the age five months. all the way up to like 10 years old. And yeah, I love it. I love my job. Why did you want to participate in this project? So when my mother had first told me about this project,
Starting point is 00:10:25 I kind of was like, what is she? Like, she's crazy. Like, she has lost her mind. Like, something is wrong with her. Like, she is her, she batshit crazy. She thinks that she's getting on the damn podcast. And so when she had finally started getting into depth with everything, I actually thought that it was really cool.
Starting point is 00:10:42 I want to be able to impact other people. I want to be able to talk to other people, let other people know that they're not alone in these kinds of situations and that I know exactly how they feel. It's okay to not be okay for a minute and that eventually you're going to get back up on your feet. There may be road bumps, but definitely get back up on your feet, you know? Ashley, I know you wrote into us on a very bad day.
Starting point is 00:11:06 But Avea, I think there are two reasons your mom wanted to do this. Put her life out in public. share her story. One is to look for a community because we know this is happening in a lot of other homes, but also because she wants to let you know some things. Right after it happened and Jason went to jail, that whole first month was kind of a blur. I feel like for all of us. Yeah, it definitely was. But after he got out of jail, do you remember me going over a to his grandpa's house to see him. What did you think about that?
Starting point is 00:11:53 Just kind of frustrated me. I just didn't understand. Yeah, I think looking back on that time, there's a couple of things that I wish I would have done differently, but I didn't. And one of those things is, you know, when he got out, I kind of switched back into Wi-Fi mode. And just for clarity, Ashley, you're talking about
Starting point is 00:12:17 after Jason was arrested and then released before he pled guilty. So before the sentencing hearing. Yeah, I was trying to manage our family, you know, you and your brother and sister, plus still be his wife. And even like with everything that happened, there wasn't a lot of people in like your corner when we should have been. When we found out that this happened, we should have cuckooned. around you. It wasn't your job to step up and be mini mom while I was having a meltdown.
Starting point is 00:12:58 That wasn't your job. And I think us not doing that pushed you away. And I am so sorry. That wasn't fair to you. That was why I went to stay with my dad. It was the only one that was really in my corner. He was the only one that really stood up and asked her, are you okay, you know? That's why I stayed there. And at the beginning of all this, too, it was all such a big, like, shock to all of us. It's not a good excuse, though. But, no, like, the thing is, too, I really don't remember, like, everything, you know? I'm telling you right now, Mom, like, we were all in shock.
Starting point is 00:13:37 Like, everyone had to write to be in shock in that situation, and you were definitely in shock, and I was, too. I'm not mad at you. I'm really not mad at you. Maybe you're not right now. Well, maybe someday you. You might be, though. Maybe someday I might, we'll be. But also may be a point where I'm not ever going to be mad at you. Like, this is not your fault.
Starting point is 00:13:57 I'm telling you, like, from this point right now, like in my life, like, I'm not mad at my mother whatsoever. Like, I'm beyond proud of my mother, beyond anything. I love you. I love you. BFF. Forever. New year, new goals. And in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever.
Starting point is 00:14:19 I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the how to money podcast. And every week, we help you to spend. been smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:14:40 Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankowali. And I'm Hurricane de Bolu. It's a new year. And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight.
Starting point is 00:15:05 You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and to start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health, and how the world around us affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other.
Starting point is 00:15:29 Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding? and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity,
Starting point is 00:16:06 and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotcha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLauce and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. At the beginning of this series, I told you that we had received several letters about families being destroyed
Starting point is 00:16:50 because the husband was looking at illegal images of children online like Jason. And I will freely admit, before we really investigated, I assumed these offenders are put away for a long time. I really thought the law threw the book at them. They were off the street. But when I met Ashley and other women who reached out, I learned that isn't necessarily the case. Even as I record this episode, Jason is halfway through his sentence and will be out in the community in the not too distant future. And you might be asking yourself, why should I can't? care. Jason Lytton isn't my husband or my son or my brother. Here's why you should care.
Starting point is 00:17:33 There aren't enough prisons in the world to hold all the people who are looking at this material. It's insane. These offenders are in your neighborhood and mine. They are blue collar, white collar, doctors, lawyers, construction workers, teachers, clergy, police officers. They encompass every walk of life. I didn't realize how uninformed I was on this topic. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received over 29 million tips just last year alone from online companies like Facebook, Google, and others that detect these images. And here's something else I learned.
Starting point is 00:18:16 Even the words child pornography are a problem. As I reached out to law enforcement and talked with people who work with victims, I discovered that they used the term child sexual abuse material. So why haven't I heard this term before? Probably because it's not in the media. It's not good clickbait. A headline that says local coach arrested for child porn is going to get a lot more traction
Starting point is 00:18:42 than local coach arrested for child sexual abuse material, just the way it is. But here's why it matters to victims. Online pornography usually refers to adults who have consented to be filmed, but that's never the case when the images depict children. It is abuse.
Starting point is 00:19:00 These are pictures of crimes that have already been committed. Children can't legally consent to sex. They can't consent to having images of their abuse recorded and distributed. So child sexual abuse material is a more accurate description, but it's also a mouthful.
Starting point is 00:19:18 So often the term CSAM is used for short. Look, no. No one ever imagines that someone they love would do this. I feel for victims like Avea. I feel for mothers and wives just like Ashley. I feel for anyone whose life is upended by discovering a family member is involved. So I really wanted to know. Why is CSAM so prevalent and lurking under the radar?
Starting point is 00:19:45 And what is law enforcement and the justice system up against to keep families like Ashley's safe? In the 90s, child sexual abuse reports. were predominantly handled by the U.S. Postal Service, who was responsible for intercepting things like magazines and that type of contraband that would be sent around. That's Gabriel Danz. He's a reporter for the New York Times, and in 2019, he and his colleague, Michael Keller,
Starting point is 00:20:13 published a groundbreaking investigative series called Exploited, which documented how CSAM has exploded, along with the growth of the Internet and social media. What we know is that with the ad-a-executive, advent of cell phones and the internet, there was both the opportunity to produce material much more easily and also the opportunity to distribute that material much more widely. The internet also provided the opportunity for people with similar interests to get together, learn from each other, and create online clubs.
Starting point is 00:20:49 Which is fine when you're talking about baking or car repair, but this is an underground that shares information on CSAM, how to acquire it, produce it, and hide it. Average citizens are downloading and viewing this material. Some states get 3,000 cyber tips a day. New York Times reporter Michael Keller. One question that we heard a lot was, well, what's the big deal? They're just sharing images.
Starting point is 00:21:20 Why is that so bad? Why should someone be punished? for that. And in speaking with survivors of the abuse, we really understood that it is the ongoing trade in imagery that makes this that much more serious and harmful to the people involved. We spoke with two sisters anonymously who were abused by their father who couldn't show their faces because there are people online trying to find them and track them down. And it prevents them from living a normal life. And that is due to the ongoing trade in the images, well past the actual abuse.
Starting point is 00:22:04 These are people who have had some of the worst crimes you could possibly imagine documented and shared for the pleasure of other people. Former Utah United States Attorney John Huber. This goes on constantly. Dozens upon hundreds of cases where you have these images and collections and trading images and bartering them like their baseball cards. And it's those run-of-the-mill offenders that I am so concerned about because they're not getting the attention in court or according to.
Starting point is 00:22:45 to state law that I believe they should. During my tenure as United States attorney, we were getting some pushback from federal judges of why are you bringing these cases, people looking at pictures. You know, what's the big deal? This is in federal court. And so we thought that was a misunderstanding and that we need to communicate better to the judges what we're talking about. You can probably imagine Ashley's surprise when she first learned what kind of justice Jason would be facing. The prosecutor made it sound like he's not going to go to prison. And the most time that he's going to do is probably six months in jail.
Starting point is 00:23:23 That was pretty normal for this type of offense. And I'm like, are you kidding me? The punishment just didn't seem to fit the crime. This doesn't just upset victims. It also demoralizes law enforcement. Riverton Detective Jason Rue was one of the first who looked at the hidden file and had to view the evidence. It frustrates me, especially with these kind of crimes,
Starting point is 00:23:50 it's a lifelong sentence for these victims. And not just the victim, but the victim's mom or the victim's dad or whoever else might know of this in the family. And you're letting them out in six months to a year with probation for four. That means basically someone's coming to check up on them every now and then asking if they're doing okay. And if you're waiting for the federal government, to jump on the problem, don't hold your breath.
Starting point is 00:24:16 We found systemic failures in responding to this rising problem. And one of the big things was the failures of the federal government to live up to its own promises that it made around 2008 to develop a strong national response. That involved creating a high-level position at the Department of Justice. It required analyzing the issue every few years and creating national strategy reports. And it required creating a funding mechanism for state and local investigators dedicated to doing these investigations. It's called Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces. There's at least one in every state.
Starting point is 00:25:05 And what we found was that the government had not really followed through on its grand plans. You know, these reports have risen, arrests have gone up slightly over the years, but federal funding to these special task forces has largely remained flat. The high-level position at DOJ was never fully created. The strategy reports that were supposed to come out on a regular basis, there's only been two of them over the last decade. So we found failures not just with the tech companies, but also with the government to solve a problem that it's known about for over 10 years. And as a response to our reporting, Senator Ron Wyden introduced a bill that was supposed to create nearly 200 positions at federal law enforcement,
Starting point is 00:26:03 allotting a total of $5 billion over 10 years to address exactly this problem. and as far as I know, that bill's gone nowhere. So our elected officials in Washington aren't living up to their promises. And people like Ashley and the rest of us are here scratching our heads at offenders like Jason thinking, you'll be out in months.
Starting point is 00:26:24 Is that really okay? New year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the How to Money podcast, and every week we help you to spend smarter, save more,
Starting point is 00:26:40 and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyankawali. And I'm Hurricane DeBolu. It's a new year.
Starting point is 00:27:00 And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences and insight. You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and to start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health and how the world around us affects our overall health.
Starting point is 00:27:35 We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little less alone. Listen on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply?
Starting point is 00:28:04 What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding? and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love,
Starting point is 00:28:40 then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotcha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike Delocha and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. So in Mr. Litton's case, on paper, his crime of conviction carries a penalty of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison. Did he get that? No. And in lieu of that, he was given days in jail and a term of probation. You probably remember that Jason's plea agreement tied the judge's hands pretty much. And while John Huber thinks the sentence falls short, he supports plea bargains, especially in cases like these. I think there's a public view that plea bargain is a bad
Starting point is 00:29:30 word, that that's a sham and a shame. It's just a reality. But it is also true that in cases of child sexual abuse, that there is a reluctance to press every case to trial. Because what is the impact of calling a child witness to the stand to be asked questions in an open courtroom about such intimate victimization. And what does that cost for a victim and their family? And at the time of sentencing, Sam argued vigorously for the most jail time possible considering the existing plea deal. In my opinion, that was one step beyond just the child pornography possession and just one step below an actual hands-on sexual offense with a child. And so it's obviously very concerning. It's extremely troubling behavior, and somebody in this defendant's position
Starting point is 00:30:32 also occupies what Utah law calls a position of special trust, and that's an aggravator under Utah law. And so I felt that this was a case where the judge should consider imposing a very significant amount of jail time. They also emphasize the overarching goal of the DA's office isn't just throwing offenders in jail. The system's interested not just in imprisoning offenders or putting people in custody and locking them away. You know, sometimes punishment for punishment's sake is appropriate, but the system generally tries to avoid that in favor of rehabilitating people. We don't want this to happen again. So what does it take to do that? At the end of the day, we're dealing with people's freedom, and we're dealing with the trauma that's been inflicted on victims. And the system can't go back
Starting point is 00:31:21 and fix something that happened. But the system is often limited in what it can do. The system is is designed very much to be limited because we don't want innocent people being convicted. So the system balances that. And it's a group of people balancing imperfect questions and imperfect solutions and terrible situations. But not everyone agrees. That is this hope and a prayer philosophy that he will change his ways in the days of probation and some days in jail that he will not reoffend. when he is released back into the community. That hope and a prayer is exactly what it ends up being.
Starting point is 00:32:07 What about the community? What about his victims, the child victims, who were violated by his conduct? How much does that cost to put that risk back on a family, that risk back on the community at large? What is the amount of money that it's worth if he does reoffend? that in that one to 15 years he could have or should have been in the Utah state prison according to the laws of the state of Utah, he's not. He's out.
Starting point is 00:32:39 Since Sam Sutton mentioned rehabilitation, I was curious about what kind of court-mandated treatment was required of Jason or someone in Jason's position. This is important to me because I want to know what information Ashley will have and Avaya will have. For example, how does one measure rehabilitation. How can one know if rehabilitation is successful? I think this is important to know when you need to make decisions to keep your kids in family safe. His court-appointed attorney refused to speak with us. In fact, no one in the public defender's office would speak to our production, so we tried another avenue. So my name is Joel Kittrell, and I'm a criminal defense lawyer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joel spent five years in the public defender's office before
Starting point is 00:33:22 or going into a private criminal defense practice. He explains what steps and programs returning citizens have to go through in order to enter back into society. Their therapy would include both individual psychotherapy, group therapy, focusing on victim empathy. And then something that's interesting that a lot of people may not know is, generally, you've got to be able to pass polygraphs. While polygraphs aren't admissible in court, as we all know,
Starting point is 00:33:51 you can't pass a polygraph that you haven't viewed child images or haven't acted on these impulses, then you may not finish the therapy classes that are required of you or the treatment that's required of you. You know, there'll be some type of overview with adult probation and parole and his parole officer that will be making sure that he completes that. If he, say, just quits going or says, this is not for me, then a warrant would likely issue. and you'd probably be sent to prison. And unfortunately, he would have lots of company.
Starting point is 00:34:26 There will never be a shortage of people looking at child sexual abuse material. Because in the past 20 years, the problem has evolved to a place that is beyond epidemic. It's a public health crisis. We spoke with people who said that as early as 2000, tech companies knew this was a very serious problem.
Starting point is 00:34:50 and we're doing nothing to solve it. 2009, when they introduced scanning technology, we knew that it could be effective in helping stem the problem. Still, tech companies, we're not using it. I would say if you talk with most technology policy people, their answer would be technology companies don't have that much pressure
Starting point is 00:35:18 to get rid of harmful content on their platform. You can't sue them for what someone posts or sends through their platform. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Shields technology companies from any liability for content that users post. So for now, law enforcement has to rely on tips those companies give to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But the tips from known social media sites are only part of the story. There are plenty of hidden places on the dark web to find CSAM as well.
Starting point is 00:35:55 Teams of detectives and child advocates are dedicated to finding these offenders. Amazing, wonderful people are cracking the codes of hidden websites on the darknet and shutting them down. And one of the biggest and most dangerous of those came crashing down in 2019. On the next episode of the trial, we'll meet a Utah wife and mother who found out her husband, was one of its subscribers. I just started screaming. I remember just dropped to my knees and started screaming. And later on season two of betrayal,
Starting point is 00:36:26 another mom makes a daring escape. I packed that bag and I just got in the car and I went straight to the airport. If you would like to reach out to the betrayal team, email us at BetrayalPod at gmail.com. That's Betrayal P-O-D at gmail.com. To report a case of child sexual exploitation, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Starting point is 00:36:52 children's cyber tip line at 1-800 the lost if you or someone you know is worried about their sexual thoughts and feelings towards children reach out to stopit now.org. In the united kingdom go to stopit now.org.com. These organizations can help. We're grateful for your support. And one way to show support is by subscribing to our show on apple podcasts. And don't forget to rate and review betrayal. Five-star reviews go a long way. A big thank you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group and partnership with IHeart Podcasts. The show was executive produced by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Fasin, hosted and produced by me, Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Carrie Hartman, also produced by Ben Federman, associate producer Kristen Melkiri. Our IHeart team is Ali Perry and Jessica Kreincheck. Special thanks to our talent, Ashinette Litton, audio editing and mixing by Matt Dalbekio.
Starting point is 00:37:51 a trail's theme composed by Oliver Baines, music library provided by Mide Music, and for more podcasts from IHeart, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How To Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high, and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right. Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference.
Starting point is 00:38:30 Kick off the year with confidence, listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm John Polk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex-gay who married an ex-lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. You might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. John has never been anything that gay, but he really tried hard not to be. Listen to Atonement, the John Polk story on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, men promise to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all?
Starting point is 00:39:21 I sat down with psychologist Dr. Steve Poulter to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name. Part of the way through the Valley of Despair is realizing this has happened, and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward. Our two-part conversation is available now. Listen to the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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