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

 

[The Catboy]

Not that it's my place, but since you've disproved that person on multiple occasions already perhaps removing those comments would help prevent the need to disprove them again? That person's false claims are cluttering the thread and distracting from what seemed to be the original intention: To inform members of a situation and explain the level of involvement GBAtemp had in that situation, which was none.

Again, I generally wouldn't intervene with something like this but the lies are clouding the truth from view and that's what's bothering me.

(On a separate note, I'd like to express appreciation to Crystal who's put in the effort to go through with at least some level of psycho-analysis to offer a plausible explanation as to the current situation, as well as giving us some of the details and evidence that she has access to. Lastly, it takes a certain level of patience to mediate a situation like this and I envy that you're able to deal with it because I know I couldn't )

In most cases I would just let it go, but in a case like this I don't buckle to misinformation. And like you said, there are lies clouding the truth, this is something I can't standby and idly watch when information is so easily obtainable. I don't want to see misinformation sway in favor of someone so clearly guilty nor do I want his actions to be undermined by such a bias community.
If there is one thing I care about, it's this community. I want people to be informed and I want them to think critically about what is in front of them without being clouded by biases. I never want to see the community swayed with misinformation. So I am willing to sit and continue. Maybe I can't help everyone, but at the same time maybe I can help those willing to listen.

 

[TheDarkGreninja]

In most cases I would just let it go, but in a case like this I don't buckle to misinformation. And like you said, there are lies clouding the truth, this is something I can standby and idly watch when information is so easily obtainable. I don't want to see misinformation sway in favor of someone so clearly guilty nor do I want his actions to be undermined by such a bias community.
If there is one thing I care about, it's this community. I want people to be informed and I want them to think critically about what is in front of them without being clouded by biases. I never want to see the community swayed with misinformation. So I am willing to sit and continue. Maybe I can't help everyone, but at the same time maybe I can help those willing to listen.

Now that's something to live by.

 

[DayVeeBoi]

Your second statement about it being on his rented server is completely false you can compiled that from this thread. Here's straight from his court record

"During the hearing in the matter on November 7, 2014, at which both Edvalson and his counsel were present, a police detective, who was a certified forensic computer examiner, testified that 161 images of confirmed child pornography were found on Edvalson’s computer; that there was evidence that he had been online since November 26, 2012, the date of the bond; that two years prior to the date of the hearing, Edvalson hosted a discussion thread on which he set up child modeling"

That's from his 2016 court files. In fact I can't even find anything claiming it was on his server beyond his fake "brother's" comments.

I'm not trying to be contrary @Crystal the Glaceon because I am pretty much in line with your POV on the topic. I have read most of the documentation and news available (so far) online regarding the case so I wanted to point out something about this post that caught my attention. This is a quote from that same document (a Supreme Court appeal regarding a breach of bail conditions). It's worth noting that he was not convicted of the offenses referred to in this document due to the evidence being obtained without a warrant.

...on cross examination, the detective acknowledged that he had not been inside Edvalson’s house or applied for a search warrant for it; that he had no evidence that Edvalson had a computer, smartphone, or internet-enabled appliance in his house; and that he was not alleging that Edvalson had unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16 since he posted bond.

I don't know what to make of it though. It appears that either the forensic specialist hacked Cruel and obtained the evidence remotely, or in my opinion the more likely possibility, that the computer referred to as Cruel's was a virtual machine that the forensic investigator gained access by the server's owner but because it was obtained without a warrant it was inadmissible. This isn't a particularly uncommon scenario.

On a related note, @MrVojo doesn't seem to know even the basics of the information available online about the case. Seems pretty unlikely that he's intimately related to Cruel.

 

[The Catboy]

I'm not trying to be contrary @Crystal the Glaceon because I am pretty much in line with your POV on the topic. I have read most of the documentation and news available (so far) online regarding the case so I wanted to point out something about this post that caught my attention. This is a quote from that same document (a Supreme Court appeal regarding a breach of bail conditions). It's worth noting that he was not convicted of the offenses referred to in this document due to the evidence being obtained without a warrant.



I don't know what to make of it though. It appears that either the forensic specialist hacked Cruel and obtained the evidence remotely, or in my opinion the more likely possibility, that the computer referred to as Cruel's was a virtual machine that the forensic investigator gained access by the server's owner but because it was obtained without a warrant it was inadmissible. This isn't a particularly uncommon scenario.

On a related note, @MrVojo doesn't seem to know even the basics of the information available online about the case. Seems pretty unlikely that he's intimately related to Cruel.

It means that in the hearing they brought up the investigator believed he was online at the time. But failed to prove it due to not having a proper warrant at the time. Thus his evidence couldn't be used in court.
There was an piece saying that he was banned from a site for posting CP and then joined under another account to do the same thing, which is most likely the evidence they were referring to. But to make a proper connection to the accounts, they would have still needed another search warrant.
Most the number came from the amount he posted, but it does look like they withheld just how they found the number of images and such. I am going off memory right now since I am at work. So I need to look at the files again when I get off

 

[The Catboy]

I'm not trying to be contrary @Crystal the Glaceon because I am pretty much in line with your POV on the topic. I have read most of the documentation and news available (so far) online regarding the case so I wanted to point out something about this post that caught my attention. This is a quote from that same document (a Supreme Court appeal regarding a breach of bail conditions). It's worth noting that he was not convicted of the offenses referred to in this document due to the evidence being obtained without a warrant.



I don't know what to make of it though. It appears that either the forensic specialist hacked Cruel and obtained the evidence remotely, or in my opinion the more likely possibility, that the computer referred to as Cruel's was a virtual machine that the forensic investigator gained access by the server's owner but because it was obtained without a warrant it was inadmissible. This isn't a particularly uncommon scenario.

On a related note, @MrVojo doesn't seem to know even the basics of the information available online about the case. Seems pretty unlikely that he's intimately related to Cruel.

I hate to double post, but I had to actually get home and look at my files I had on this case and also pull up the court records from 2016.
So actually looking at the files they the file, it appears the 161 images were already found and confirmed before the additional hearing. The lack of search warrant was an issue because the court found that he had been online posting CP on a site, got banned, then made another account to continue. But they didn't have a warrant in order to prove that he was possessing a computer and or smartphone.

Spoiler

that there was evidence that he had been online since November 26, 2012, the date of the bond; that two years prior to the date of the hearing, Edvalson hosted a discussion thread on which he set up child modeling posts, considered in the context of forensics to be child erotica; that he was subsequently banned from the website for posting child pornography; and that Edvalson altered his online username and began to post comments about child pornography, including sarcastic comments about certain child pornography laws posted 29 days before the revocation hearing. However, on crossexamination, the detective acknowledged that he had not been inside Edvalson’s house or applied for a search warrant for it; that he had no evidence that Edvalson had a computer, smartphone, or internet-enabled appliance in his house; and that he was not alleging that Edvalson had unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16 since he posted bond.
The superior court stated that it accepted that Edvalson was the author of the internet posts in question but despite the disturbing nature of the circumstances and the court’s concern, it was going to deny the motion to revoke bond because there was no evidence that Edvalson used, or possessed in his home, any of the devices prohibited in the bond or that he violated the terms and conditions as set forth in the bond order

Basically they knew he made the posts, but couldn't prove he had a computer. That's the issue brought up in that section. Considering the record is actually from an appeal, that means he had already stood trail and his computer had already been taken away. Thus the trail papers we didn't see are the ones containing to the details to how they found the images. But this one still ultimately shows that they did indeed find pictures and even posts made by him. Their other issue was just that they couldn't prove he was in possession of another computer and or a smartphone.

As for the @MrVojo, I actually made a pretty lengthy post pointing out the flaws in their statements. And honestly I can more than confirm that they are a dupe account. It's just too bad that they won't log back on and let me PM them.

 

[Cjmcgiv]

Wow, I just heard about this today. How did I not hear about this before?

 

[sarkwalvein]

Wow, I just heard about this today. How did I not hear about this before?

Not sure how you didn't. This was in the front page and as you see it was quite discussed, with 38 pages of comments in this thread only.

 

[The Catboy]

Wow, I just heard about this today. How did I not hear about this before?

Atmospheric pressures? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yeah, this was some pretty big news though it happened. But I am going to take a guess and say that you weren't active at the time since I am just now seeing your username. You are pretty noticeable username, not something I would forget.

 

[Cjmcgiv]

Atmospheric pressures? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yeah, this was some pretty big news though it happened. But I am going to take a guess and say that you weren't active at the time since I am just now seeing your username. You are pretty noticeable username, not something I would forget.

I was semi active, not really in the 3ds community though because I did not want to boot my 3ds until more info about the banwave came out (that's why I'm back now.)

 

[Viri]

Well inmates love to bully pedophiles and child molesters, anyone who preys on the weak. He best not drop the soap, or Tyrell and DeShawn is gonna be turning his ass into a blood orange.

Spoiler

 

[Deleted member 377734]

Well inmates love to bully pedophiles and child molesters, anyone who preys on the weak. He best not drop the soap, or Tyrell and DeShawn is gonna be turning his ass into a blood orange.

Spoiler

not just bully them, I've heard of a case where inmates outright killed a another inmate who raped a 6-month old baby. it was mentioned in a documentary of one of America's max-security prisons.

 

[The Catboy]

I am not sure how many people will be interested in this post, but I think it's time for a quick update. I've regularly checked all of his public social media and project pages to see if any life was shown post arrest. To which I've found none of his accounts have shown any signs of life. If this was a case of mistaken identity, he would have had plenty of time to clear things up, contact the staff, and or made a comment somewhere. This has simply not been the case, only leading me to believe the staff made the right call and that Cruel is indeed the very same Thomas Edvalson as the one who is in jail right now. I hope this clears up any possible doubt that may have been lingering.

 

[hobbledehoy899]

I am not sure how many people will be interested in this post, but I think it's time for a quick update. I've regularly checked all of his public social media and project pages to see if any life was shown post arrest. To which I've found none of his accounts have shown any signs of life. If this was a case of mistaken identity, he would have had plenty of time to clear things up, contact the staff, and or made a comment somewhere. This has simply not been the case, only leading me to believe the staff made the right call and that Cruel is indeed the very same Thomas Edvalson as the one who is in jail right now. I hope this clears up any possible doubt that may have been lingering.

To be honest I don't think this bump was necessary.

 

[Jayro]

This site even shows his ugly mug:
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/lo...cle_05ad133f-165f-5afe-9714-92fc4445ead1.html

 

[The Catboy]

To be honest I don't think this bump was necessary.

I've always been one to try and do a follow up. This was a rather interesting (best way to describe this,) case for the Temp and a lot of concerns were brought up at the time when this happened. One major concern being the possibility of a mistaken identity and having accidentally accused an innocent person of these crimes. Which really only time was going to tell if this were the case. Given the time that has past, I felt it had been long enough (I had been staring at dead accounts for way longer than any healthy person should,) that I came forth with my results. To which I just wanted to clear up any lingering doubt and close this case.
Detective stuff is what I am good at ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Jayro]

I've always been one to try and do a follow up. This was a rather interesting (best way to describe this,) case for the Temp and a lot of concerns were brought up at the time when this happened. One major concern being the possibility of a mistaken identity and having accidentally accused an innocent person of these crimes. Which really only time was going to tell if this were the case. Given the time that has past, I felt it had been long enough (I had been staring at dead accounts for way longer than any healthy person should,) that I came forth with my results. To which I just wanted to clear up any lingering doubt and close this case.
Detective stuff is what I am good at ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Fair assessment, and good detective work. Thank you for your recent findings. Sad it had to end up this way.

 

[vinstage]

To be honest, I couldn't really doubt that the convicted was guilty due to the detail released about the case, which is sad enough to be true. :/

I've always been one to try and do a follow up. This was a rather interesting (best way to describe this,) case for the Temp and a lot of concerns were brought up at the time when this happened. One major concern being the possibility of a mistaken identity and having accidentally accused an innocent person of these crimes. Which really only time was going to tell if this were the case. Given the time that has past, I felt it had been long enough (I had been staring at dead accounts for way longer than any healthy person should,) that I came forth with my results. To which I just wanted to clear up any lingering doubt and close this case.
Detective stuff is what I am good at ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Glad you did because some people may still be intrigued as to what's happened.

 

[G0R3Z]

As someone with a mental disorder (many, actually) i'll weigh up with some facts. Being a Peadophile is a mental disorder, fact. Many Paedophiles do not act on their urges and feel genuinely ashamed and frightened of what is happening to them. I've spoken with paedophiles at length in group psychological surveys, and at a stint in a mental hospital many years ago. The number you see abusing children is a very small percentage of actual paedophiles; it is the same as being a psychopath, I do not kill people, it is a very small percentage of actual psychopaths that become serial killers. Nearly all paedophiles seek psychological help, the ones you see in news articles have chosen, or have not had the sufficient help otherwise, to act on their urges. It is monstrous for those to act upon it, but not all paedophiles are evil people, just those left behind with a mental disorder, like myself, and many others suffering with mental illness. Mental illness is still not very understood, people need to realise that.

I listened to a woman once (yes, woman) in a group who openly admitted to being a paedophile, being attracted to girls, and not doing anything about it. She said that at the age of twelve, she was attracted to girls of her own age, but as she got older, the attraction stayed with those twelve year old girls. She both didn't understand and was horrified by it.

I see many people going "I don't understand how they could be attracted to children", and not thinking of many mental disorders as a whole. I suffer from psychopathy, I feel very little emotion, and no empathy whatsoever, but i've had even other people with mental illness ask me "I don't understand how you don't feel". You might not understand them, but it doesn't change the fact that they happen.

 

[WeedZ]

Psychopaths are fucking fascinating. What an advantage in life you would have with no remorse, guilt or empathy. They say 1 in 100 are psychopaths, and that they are so good a mimicking emotion that you could be married to one for years and not know it.

Sorry for derailing, but I'm tired of hearing about that asshole.

 

[DeslotlCL]

Surprised to see this thread still open... shouldn't it be closed by now?