Vilnius Court Upholds Conviction in Sting Operation Targeting Alleged Pedophile
Vilnius, Lithuania – A Vilnius Regional Court judge has affirmed teh conviction of mindaugas Trakelis in a case stemming from a controversial operation conducted by a group of teenagers who posed as minors online to identify individuals suspected of seeking child sexual content. The ruling, delivered by Judge Mindaugas Povilanskas, hinged on the court’s determination that evidence obtained through the teenagers’ initiative was admissible, despite defense arguments claiming entrapment.The case highlights a growing trend of citizen-led efforts to combat online sexual exploitation of children, adn raises complex legal questions about the boundaries of such investigations. While concerns about vigilantism and due process are present, Judge Povilanskas found no evidence of provocation by the teenagers, emphasizing that Trakelis himself initiated the incriminating conversation. The judgment is now final.
According to court documents, the teenagers engaged Trakelis in online correspondence, during which he allegedly solicited explicit material from someone he believed to be a 15-year-old. Defense lawyers argued the interaction was induced,rendering the evidence inadmissible. However, Judge Povilanskas referenced established case law stating that data provided to law enforcement by private citizens is permissible evidence unless obtained through explicitly prohibited means.
“It is indeed clarified in the case law that the data collected by a private person and provided to the law enforcement authority on the alleged offence might potentially be recognized as evidence and that the data provided by individuals are not recognized only in cases where they are obtained in a direct prohibited manner,” Judge Povilanskas stated. He further noted that the correspondence demonstrated Trakelis was the instigator,initiating contact with the question,”Want?” and continuing the conversation after receiving a response indicating the othre party was underage.During sentencing, Judge Povilanskas considered Trakelis’s prior administrative offenses and expressed concern over his lack of legitimate income. “The accused M. Trakelis, at a young age, does not make the effort to have a legal source of livelihood, but is committing violations of law, his criminal behavior is not accidental,” the judge said.