A former member of the community, not extremely active on GBAtemp but known for contributions to several projects on the 3DS hacking scene, Thomas Edvalson aka 'Cruel', has recently received a 20 year jail sentence for supposedly hosting a child porn site (although he firmly denied it).

Thomas Scot Edvalson, 28, appeared to be providing a website where other users could download images of child porn, according to a press release form the District Attorney’s Office. The site came complete with an online guide detailing how to use the dark web to set up a website for trading pictures of child sexual abuse.

Source: Gwinnett Daily Post
A thread was started on GBAtemp to discuss the issue a couple of months ago, before the final judgement was rendered. At the time our decision was to lock the thread up as it began to heavily derail. Some members and visitors took this as a 'cover up' and wondered why we didn't ban this guy's user account on GBAtemp.

We had long discussions in the staff forum and decided to wait for the final verdict (the appeal that is) before doing anything, thereby letting justice do its work. We banned this person from our forums immediately after we heard the final judgement and by the looks of it he won't be around again for a while. Since then, there hasn't been any new threads about the story but if there had been one, we would have allowed it for sure.

At this point we are wondering why anyone would think we are 'covering' this up? Why would we even need to? It's not like people don't know what happened already. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in this thread.

Furthermore, there is an ongoing story concerning another person, it's been posted on a Reddit thread (edit: now removed, but you can see screenshots here) and, again, we certainly won't prevent you from discussing it wherever you want just as long as you stay civil.

We at GBAtemp value freedom of speech above all, but within the boundaries of the law. If you think someone is guilty of a crime it is your duty to report it to the relevant authorities (not the GBAtemp admins, I mean the police). But otherwise let justice do its job. We do not believe that witch hunts have their place on GBAtemp.


The staff

 

[Joe88]

Pedophilia is a mental disorder, spreading images and telling people how to spread their images of exploited children isn't "ok". These people start with pictures, then move to videos and soon they can't get off on them anymore so they go and commit a sexual act with a child, probably someone who trusted them like a niece or nephew or even their own children. In more rare cases they will actually go and abduct a child to fulfill their desires.

I also don't buy the story that "someone else" did it and he dindu nuffin, he a good boy. People defending him should be ashamed, I really don't care what good he did (well subjective since he allowed people to commit piracy).

 

[DeadlyFoez]

I am not sure why this dude is banned from GBAtemp. If he did nothing illegal here then why be banned? That doesn't really make sense to me.
Like if I go and get arrested for picking up a hooker on my own time, then I certainly shouldn't be fired from my job or suspended from school. So what gives?
I completely understand that no one will want anything to do with this dude now, and thats fine. Hell, it is not like he has a chance to use gbatemp anymore anyways, so I am sure he wont be heartbroken over being banned, but I still dont even understand why you guys would go out of your way.

Seriously, I just looked through the site rules, and there was absolutely no mention that a persons action outside of this site can still be punished on this site.

 

[ItsKipz]

I am not sure why this dude is banned from GBAtemp. If he did nothing illegal here then why be banned? That doesn't really make sense to me.
Like if I go and get arrested for picking up a hooker on my own time, then I certainly shouldn't be fired from my job or suspended from school. So what gives?
I completely understand that no one will want anything to do with this dude now, and thats fine. Hell, it is not like he has a chance to use gbatemp anymore anyways, so I am sure he wont be heartbroken over being banned, but I still dont even understand why you guys would go out of your way.

Seriously, I just looked through the site rules, and there was absolutely no mention that a persons action outside of this site can still be punished on this site.

A pedophile who's been sent to jail over CP possession? Pretty sure that's not the kind of person we want here.

 

[zac122]

-snip-
I can tell you're clearly quite riled up about this, so I'll ask that you calm down a bit while reading my reply. Maybe sip some coffee and listen to smooth jazz if that's your thing. Pedophiles, specifically those who are suppressing their urges, need to be HELPED. NOT KILLED. Going around killing everyone who isn't "normal" would not be ok, and logically speaking you're suggesting killing someone based on a mental illness. Should we also kill people who have social anxiety? Or maybe we should kill people who have multiple personalities. Oh wait, these people are helped to get through their problems. We don't just say "hey that guy is weird. Kill the bitch". It's wrong to murder an innocent person just because they have the urge to do something wrong. I would say that you wanting to kill everyone with the potential to rape children is just as disgusting as the people who actually do rape children because what you suggest is to literally kill thousands (and maybe more) of innocent people because their brain works different from yours. PEDOPHILES ARE NOT RAPISTS. They can be, and the ones that do are some of the worst scum on earth; however that doesn't mean we should kill people that need help and are suffering for something that they never had a choice in.

Just to be clear I'm not saying pedophilia is ok, and I'm certainly not defending child rapists. What I'm saying is that you need to calm the fuck down and think about what you're suggesting.

 

[DeadlyFoez]

A pedophile who's been sent to jail over CP possession? Pretty sure that's not the kind of person we want here.

Sadly, I am sure there are many pedophiles on this site. They are everywhere. Whats to stop this dude from creating another account when he gets out of jail? (as if gbatemp will still be here in 20 years).

 

[ItsKipz]

Sadly, I am sure there are many pedophiles on this site. They are everywhere. Whats to stop this dude from creating another account when he gets out of jail? (as if gbatemp will still be here in 20 years).

Nothing, but if he shares any of that stuff on here he'll be banned. As it stands, i cant speak for the mods but i think he'd be a risk for sharing that, not something anyone wants.

 

[Kioku]

Sadly, I am sure there are many pedophiles on this site. They are everywhere. Whats to stop this dude from creating another account when he gets out of jail? (as if gbatemp will still be here in 20 years).

The law. When they're on a list, they're less likely to make a social media account of any type.. Doesn't stop them, but it does help deter them.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

If he did nothing illegal here then why be banned? That doesn't really make sense to me.

You think he didn't do anything illegal? You honestly convinced yourself that the crime he was convicted of isn't illegal? Then you turn around and compare it to something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. What the fuck is wrong with this site. Oh my lordy.

 

[AmandaRose]

Well, this is like someone created a vid tutorial about how to build a bomb, then some else followed the guide and used that self built bomb to commit a massacre, then the guy who created the vid tutorial is accused for terrorism and mass murder, even there's no evidence that assume he 's a terrorist.

Thats it

WTF are you on about his own personal computer had over 10000 downloaded child porn pics.

 

[ItsKipz]

The law. When they're on a list, they're less likely to make a social media account of any type.. Doesn't stop them, but it does help deter them.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


You think he didn't do anything illegal? You honestly convinced yourself that the crime he was convicted of isn't illegal? Then you turn around and compare it to something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. What the fuck is wrong with this site. Oh my lordy.

"This thing is totally bad and he should be in jail for it but its not illegal."

 

[Foxi4]

Snip!

This is precisely why I immediately thought this thread is a bad idea, @Costello.

 

[Kioku]

This thing is totally bad and he should be in jail for it but its not illegal.

https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-child-pornography

Seems illegal to me.. Hm

 

[ItsKipz]

https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-child-pornography

Seems illegal to me.. Hm

The /s wasn't implied, sorry making fun of the other guy.

 

[Foxi4]

You think he didn't do anything illegal? You honestly convinced yourself that the crime he was convicted of isn't illegal? Then you turn around and compare it to something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. What the fuck is wrong with this site. Oh my lordy.

The crucial word in that comment was "here". We're not the police and we're not judges, we should only enforce our own rules board. If he didn't break board rules in any way, he shouldn't be banned. His personal life is none of our business, we're not supposed to function as a moral police and offences that occur off-site should not be punished on-site - leave the law to the authorities and focus on board rules. I can completely understand @DeadlyFoez' argument, but I'm not a moderator or an admin, there are smarter people in charge of those things that made a judgement call.

 

[DeadlyFoez]

You think he didn't do anything illegal? You honestly convinced yourself that the crime he was convicted of isn't illegal? Then you turn around and compare it to something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. What the fuck is wrong with this site. Oh my lordy.

Yeah, really. Whats the fuck is wrong with this site. I've got this asshole here that decides to not read my whole sentence and only a portion of it and completely takes it as it means something else.

If he did nothing illegal here then why be banned?

Did he do something illegal on this site? NO! Costello said so himself.
I can understand your disgust with this person, cruel or whatever the fuck his name is, but don't let your disgust keep you properly reading english sentences.

 

[Kioku]

The /s wasn't implied, sorry making fun of the other guy.

Oh, my bad haha. I was half thinking that, not going to lie.

 

[Foxi4]

Did he do something illegal on this site? NO! Costello said so himself. I can understand your disgust with this person, cruel or whatever the fuck his name is, but don't let your disgust keep you properly reading english sentences.

Quite right.

 

[MasterJ360]

Another Pedo from here? Jeez. I think this is like the 3rd time ive seen pedo convictions here

 

[Xzi]

Next step is Trump offers him a cabinet position.

 

[Kioku]

Yeah, really. Whats the fuck is wrong with this site. I've got this asshole here that decides to not read my whole sentence and only a portion of it and completely takes it as it means something else.

Did he do something illegal on this site? NO! Costello said so himself.
I can understand your disgust with this person, cruel or whatever the fuck his name is, but don't let your disgust keep you properly reading english sentences.

Regardless, you think that him being a pedo out in the real world has no bearing here? I couldn't care less what happens to him. It's astounding that people think he shouldn't have been banned here for such a horrendous act. Isn't it interesting?

Also, you hooking up with a prostitute is a piss poor example.

 

[DeadlyFoez]

there are smarter people in charge of those things that made a judgement call.

Trust me, don't downplay yourself because some those in charge are really quite the dumbasses.