This Might Shock You

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?  I'll bet that nosey neighbor across the street does.  Dang but don't you hate nosey neighbors?  They've got that holier than thou attitude; that I'm going to tattle on you and spoil your fun arrogance that roils everyone.

I know just the type.  A buddy of mine lived in a neighborhood with a spinster of a nosey neighbor.  She recorded when people came and went; what car they drove; what they wore; who they talked to.  Really, over the top.  Everyone hated her.  At least, everyone did hate her until that one time her nosy-ness actually paid off for everyone.

So, as the story goes, a new couple moved into the neighborhood.  Guy was in his mid-30's and lady was about the same age.  Nice looking couple.  People you'd want living next to you.  Because they never talked to nosey neightbor, she immediately got suspicious and started recording everything the did.  

See, I knew what she was doing because, unlike her neighbors, I actually liked her and we talked all the time (which is why she never bothered me).  Every time I'd visit my buddy, she'd fill me in on what was going on.  Then there was the day police showed up at new couple's house. Slightly interested neighbors gathered and eyebrows were raised when the couple was led out of his house in handcuffs.  

Seems nosey neighbor had spotted several neighborhood kids in new couple's backyard swimming who were in various stages of undress with Guy taking pictures in the background.  I'd say that qualifies as kinda funky.  Well, funky enough for the police to show up.

Turns out couple had been taking pictures of kids in stages of undress for quite some time and had posted them around their boudoir.  Subsequently, couple was charged with:

• California Penal Code Section 311.3 (Sexual exploitation of a child)
• California Penal Code Section 311.4 (Knowingly hiring, employing, using, persuading, or coercing a minor to participate in the production of child porn)
• California Penal Code Section 311.0 (Knowingly advertising obscene child porn for sale or distribution)
• California Penal Code Section 311.1 (Knowingly possessing or controlling any child pornography that was produced using a person under 18)

Seems couple argued in court that the pictures were of artistic value.  Seems the judge/jury didn't believe couple and, well, we never saw couple again.  To say the least, nosey neighbor was the talk of the town and was everyone's new hero.  Seems, suddenly, her nose wasn't so nosey anymore.  

I guess that's how it is - the brunt of everyone's ire one day and at the top of the empire state building the next.  Nice to know people have (or had) values and will ignore a little nosey-ness when something funky comes down the pike.