For the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the Shiitake Awards, since 2008, I've been hosting a parody of awards shows in the vein of other such cheesy spoof awards like the Razzies or the Darwin Awards. The focus of these awards centers on insanity caused by Predator Panic and the sex offense laws they inspire. While most nominees are in the US, Predator Panic spans the globe, and so we do too. Throughout the year, I seek the worst and/or dumbest things said and done in the name of exploiting the moral panic over sex offenses and those listed on the public sex offense registry.
While our goal is to poke fun at the insanity, there are some serious issues with the stories presented. Many sex offense laws and myths are spread by the media, legislators, and victim advocates. This in turn fuels stricter regulations (punishment), and in turn, fuels MORE moral panic. When someone takes the insanity too far, we feature it here and on our supplemental blog for nominees [CLICK HERE].
Without further ado, here are the winners and runners up of the 2022 Shiitake Awards:
(For the full list of nominees, see https://shiitakeawards.blogspot.com/2023/01/voting-for-2022-shiitake-awards-has.html)
DUMBEST QUOTE 2022
WINNER! Dillon Awes
Pastor at Stedfast Baptist Church, Watauga TX
Dillon Awes told his congregation that gay people are “dangerous to society” and said that “all homosexuals are pedophiles.” “I’m not saying that every single homosexual that’s alive right now has committed that act with a child already because it could be they haven’t had the opportunity yet and they will at some point later in their life. This is why we need to put these people to death through the proper channels of the government. ... These people are not normal. They’re not your average everyday sinners. ... They have no hope of salvation.”
RUNNER-UP: Keeley Olson of STAR Alaska, a victim advocacy group: In response to an article aboutAnti-Registry activism, Olson told Alaska News Source in November 2022, “Regardless of what this group says, they do tend to reoffend. And when they do reoffend, they tend to reoffend against multiple victims.”
2022 WORST/DUMBEST NEWS MUTT (REPORTER)
WINNER! Tucker Carlson, Fox News
From the September 19, 2022, edition of Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight: Tucker Carlson accuses schools and hospitals of “sex crimes” and tells viewers they have a moral duty to dole out “instant justice” “no matter what the law says.” “No one should put up with this. No parent should put up with this for one second, no matter what the law says. Your duty – your moral duty – is to defend your children. This is an attack on your children and you should fight back.”
RUNNERS-UP:
Tie 1: Josh Boswell, UK Daily Mail: Wrote an article declaring there were 400 “pedophile dens” in California (i.e., group homes for Registered Persons). Boswell even labeled many houses and featured many Registrants in a derogatory manner (“convicted pedos”), and relied on prosecutors for his talking points.
Tie 2: Joni Auden Land and Dirk VanderHart, Oregon Public Broadcasting: Donald Surrett saved lives by interfering with a mass shooter. He was killed for his efforts and posthumously declared a hero. These two clowns drudged up Surrett’s previous sex offense conviction to detract from his heroics.
2022 EVERYDAY ZEROES
(DUMBEST VIGILANTES)
Chase Johnston likes to play vigilante for clocks and likes (and money) on social media, but the leader of the vigilante group “Midwest Predator Catchers” has his own extensive criminal history and has been accused of sexual assault. (Update: He pleaded guilty to a lower, non-sex offense, and is now facing new felony assault charges.)
RUNNERS UP!
Tie 1: Katie Weeks Wymard, Hampton PA: Started an online petition to demand Pennsylvania institute a 2500-foot residency restriction law & told reports it isn’t IF they reoffend but WHEN.
Tie 2: Hayley Wilton, Roxana IL: Harassed owner of a local ice cream stand because a co-owner was on the public registry.
2022 Holy Shiitakes Award
(DUMBEST/WORST News Story)
WINNER! Brevard Co (FL) Commission admits they’re out to cause harm to Registered Persons:
Brevard County Commissioners John Tobia, Kristine Zonka, and Rita Pritchett walked in goosestep... er, "lockstep" with each other in condemning anti-registry activists at a county commission meeting held on May 17th, 2022.
RUNNER-UP!: Ron DeSantis’s Press Secretary Christina Pushaw refers to opponents of Don’t Say Gay” bill as “pedophiles”: When grilled about it, Pushaw said, “The governor has never referred to the bill as an anti-grooming bill or used that term. It was my personal account and I was tweeting off work hours.”
2022 KEYSTONE KOP OF THE YEAR
WINNER! Bill Leeper, Nassau Co FL Sheriff
Sheriff Leeper continued posting blatantly unconstitutional signs in the yards of Registered Persons ahead of Halloween, even after the 11th Circuit struck down similar signs.
RUNNER-UP! Peter Bilardello, Cobb Co GA Registry Officer: I say "Former” officer now, because he committed a sex offense and must register himself.
2022 DUMBEST NEW BILL/LAW
WINNER! Missouri HB 1603
So, you want to move to a new location, and you are a Missouri registrants convicted of a certain registerable offense? Well, if this idiotic law passes, you'll have to find someone else to drive you around since Missouri wants you to give them your Driver's License first, which they'll hold as collateral until you finish moving. Well, if don't have friends with Driver's Licenses and you can't afford professional movers, what do you do? It seems to me those Missouri "My Governor is an Idiot" masks people in Missouri sell need to add a remark their legislators are, too. -- Update: Good news, this bill died in committee.
There are no runners-up in this category. Oddly enough, there were not any other nominations, a rare feat in the Shiitake Awards.
2022 DUMBEST/WORST POLITICIAN
Kelly Lynn, Norman (OK) Ward 3 Councillor:
After assaulting a 66-year old woman, Lynn started attacking a homeless shelter that would be open to Registered Persons & called the homeless charity a “radical” group that will increase homelessness. He also wanted the Sheriff to incarcerate al homeless Registrants & the homeless groups helping them. He also told anti-registry activists they deserve the “death penalty.”
RUNNER-UP! Debra Jones, AL Supreme Court Candidate: The living argument against elections for state Supreme Court candidates, Jones, who co-founded the Calhoun-Cleburne Children’s Advocacy Center, ran an ad boasting that she sentenced a person convicted of child molestation to more than 1,000 years in prison. The spot shows her firing a handgun and saying the only reason she didn't put the person “under the jail” was “the liberals" wouldn't let her. Good thing she lost.
WORST STATE 2022
WINNER! Take a wild guess....
It is FloriDUH. The answer is ALWAYS FLORIDUH.
OK, honestly, I need to do a category for "Worst State Not Named FloriDUH." Give the other states a fighting chance. I mean, there are 49 OTHER states any most of them suck, too. But FloriDUH sets the bar high. Hell, in the entire history of the Shiitake Awards, going all the way back to 2008, another state won maybe three years out of 15. Those who are long-time followers of the Shiitake Awards have turned it into a running joke during the voting.
And for the sake of simplicity, here are the nominees that did not win or were runners-up:
THE REST OF THE NOMINEES:
2022 DUMBEST QUOTE
Steve McClure, Illinois State Senator: When asked about IL’s practice of keeping Registrants beyond their end of sentence date for lack of housing, McClure said, “I think they have to expand their search to other parts of the state, you know, I mean, if there's a region that they want to live that doesn't meet these requirements, there are plenty of other places in this state--a lot of rural places where they could live if they wanted to.” McClure denied it was a problem, and worth it even if it costs taxpayers millions, and when the reporter asked if he’s “basically saying you think that people who are looking for housing who aren't finding it need to try harder?” McClure said Yes.
Bob Johnson, Santa Rosa Co FL Sheriff: After conducting a sting operation, Johnson told the media, “You should monitor what websites (your kids) go to and stay on them. They don’t have privacy in your home, they belong to you and if you don’t keep track of what they’re doing, this is what’s coming for them. Scumbags like this. This is all they do. They are looking for little girls and little boys to have sex with and they will travel to do it. You can incarcerate them forever, they can die, or you can cut off a certain appendage. That’s the only way it’s going to get fixed. These guys are predators, and they are coming for your children.”
Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communication Director: Angry at the term Minor Attracted Person (MAP), McDonnell stated, “When I hear the term pedophilia I get a punch in the gut and I have to pay attention because I want to know more about that individual. I want to know if the community is going to be safe where he or she is going to be allowed to return to after serving time. Minor attracted individual absolutely is a slap in the face to sexual abuse victims globally. We were victimized. We were targeted by predators who had groomed us and who had used us as their bait and as their play. That is the crime and it needs to remain named a crime.”
Kristine Zonka, Brevard Co FL Commission: Angry that anti-registry activists testified at a commission meeting, Zonka said, “I think I have spoken pretty passionately on this it. I just wish people would stop calling themselves registered citizens and call themselves registered sex offenders or registered predators, which is really what they are. They are so proud to be here and demand rights.”
Gary Long, Butts Co GA Sheriff: In response to one sex crime conviction, Long stated, “I am a firm believer in rehabilitation, but a person convicted of committing the act of child molestation, in my opinion, cannot, and will not be rehabilitated.”
Marjorie Taylor-Green, Senator (R-GA): Claimed that those who voted to confirm Katanji Brown-Jackson to SCOTUS were “pro-pedophile.” MTG Tweeted, “Murkowski, Collins, and Romney are pro-pedophile. They just voted for #KBJ.”
Greg Hembree, South Carolina State Senator: Angry at efforts to reform the registry, Hembree stated, ““The thing that is so dangerous about this — and we are kind of playing with live rounds — is the court says, ‘If you don’t have a law in place at this point, then everybody is going to get put off the sex offender registry…The clock is ticking against law and order, and in favor of those who would do away with this.”
Tom Jones, American Accountability Foundation: In opposing Ketanji Brown-Jackson’s nomination to SCOTUS, Jones stated, “Once again, Joe Biden’s White House has failed in the vetting process by nominating a radical Leftist like Judge Brown Jackson to the highest court in the land… Americans want our judicial system to protect children and citizens from sexual predators. Judge Brown Jackson’s radical position raises questions on her suitability to serve on the court. Is she more interested in social justice engineering or administering justice?”
Roxanne Hammond, Pennington Co SD Prosecutor: Lied during her testimony to the SD legislature when she stated, “And what we know of sex offenders, what we know of sex crimes, is they are one of the most difficult individuals to rehabilitate…And so that’s largely why we have the sex offender registry, to keep tabs essentially on people that are more likely to re-offend.”
Randy Fine, FL State Senator: Boasting of denying housing to Registrants, Fine stated, “I own an apartment complex, and I do a background check, and I do a criminal check, and I go, ‘this isn’t the sort of person I want to live here,’(I) guess it’s a good reason not to be a sex offender.”
DUMBEST NEWS MUTT
Josh Boswell, UK Daily Mail: Wrote an article declaring there were 400 “pedophile dens” in California (i.e., group homes for Registered Persons). Boswell even labeled many houses and featured many Registrants in a derogatory manner (“convicted pedos”), and relied on prosecutors for his talking points.
AJ Javanel, Fox 13 Seattle: Wrote a fearmongering fluff piece that tries hard to imply the Registrants living near the campus of the University of Washington are involved in the "crime wave," yet there has been no link between any of the crimes this idiotic reporter mentions and those being targeted by this reporter just for having a place to live.
Daniel Murnin, Ohio University Newspaper: Wrote an OpEd arguing that Registered Persons should be forced to have identifying marks on their driver’s licenses.
Charlie Specht, The Buffalo News: Wrote a hit piece on a Registered Person working as assistant treasurer for a political candidate, ever drudging up the Registrant’s campaign contributions.
2022 EVERYDAY ZEROES AWARD
Phil Godlewski, QAnon Influencer: While promoting the insane QAnon conspiracy & accusing others of “grooming,” it was discovered that Phil had a sex offense against a minor in his own past.
Kim Neubauer, Columbia Station OH: Started a harassment campaign against a haunted house that employed a Registered Person.
Ali Abdulrab, Atlanta GA: Is pushing for a “Miriam’s Law” to stamps the ID Cards of Registered Persons
Ciearria Cookson & Carissa Kohne, Nashville TN: Is pushing for a law to force Registrants to show ID for all medical services; they cited an arrest for an alleged sex offense that was dismissed.
Mark Glaeser, Gainesville FL: Began a campaign to get 2000 Registered Persons arrested in FL for “illegally voting” when the law was not clear that Registrants could not vote.
Richard & Evelyn Creighton, Fairfield CA: Engaged in targeted harassment against a transitional home for Registered Persons, including a website that illegally posted registry info.
Chloe Carr, United Kingdom: Ex-Hull City council worker turned over private registry data about Registrants to a vigilante group for purposes of harassment. (In the UK the registry data is not public.)
2022 HOLY SHIITAKES AWARD
Vuntut Gwitchin (Native Tribe) gov’t in Yukon CA uses COVID-19 Law to ban a Registrant from their community: Claimed it was not personal but it really was.
New Mexico GOP combines Predator Panic with fears of White Replacement in campaign ad: An altered image of darkened hands cutting a white child’s hair added “Do you want a sex offender cutting your child’s hair?” The original stock image had shown white hands but the GOP colored it black.
Ocala-News.com (FL) posts registrant hurricane shelter info in their “pets” section: It is unclear if it was the news outlet or the Sheriff’s office that decided place registrant shelter info in the “pets” section of the article giving hurricane shelter info.
2022 KEYSTONE KOP OF THE YEAR
Kerry Forestal, Marion Co IN Sheriff: Admitted to conducing compliance checks to compel Registrants to move out of his county. When asked about his message to Registrants, Kerry’s response was, “We don’t want you here.”
Ennis Wright, Cumberland Co (AR) Sheriff: Spat on a positive story about the homeless into a fearmongering article by turning it into fear by writing a Facebook post denouncing the homeless man featured in the story as a Registrant and pointing out many homeless are on the registry
Sabrina Mellerson, Clarendon Co (SC) Sheriff’s Deputy: Arrested for misconduct in office and embezzlement; she embezzled money from Registrants who made cash payments to pay registry fees.
Jeff Dodd, Anaheim (CA) PD Sergeant, “Retired”: Altered registry data in an attempt to discredit a female co-worker, which could’ve led to a false arrest on FTR.
Raymond Schultz, Memorial Village Police (TX) Police Chief: Left the Albuquerque (NM) PD amid scandal and landed a cushy job elsewhere, Schultz admitted to using red light camera to track Registrants entering his town.
2022 DUMBEST/WORST POLITICIAN
Hershel Walker, GA Congressional Candidate: In a Hail Mary attempt to win his election, Walker falsely claimed his political opponent was “responsible” for “sexually abused kids” at a summer camp.
Ted Budd, US Senator (R-NC): Successfully claimed his political opponent was “soft’ on Registered Persons” and “helped free child rapists.
Dave Catalfamo, Republican NY Assemblyman Candidate: Pushed a petition to kick out of college a student forced to register. He went on TV claiming everyone on the registry were “dangerous” and “pedophiles”
Tudor Dixon (R), Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate: Campaigned to reinstate residency restriction laws that were declared unconstitutional by federal courts.
Ron DeSantis (R), FloriDUH Governor: Misled Registrants into thinking they were allowed to vote only to have those who voted arrested for voter fraud. Many cases were quickly tossed.
Bob O’DeKirk, Joliet (IL) Mayor: A man who settled a civil suit for bodyslamming a peaceful protester, O’DeJerk has pushed to open a pocket Park to prevent the opening of a halfway house for Registered Persons.
Pauline Hanson, Australia’s extremist “One Nation” Party: Promoted chemical castration and public registries in Australia, which was thankfully struck down
Josh Hawley, US Senator (R-MO): Desperate to turn attention away from his role in the January 6th Insurrection, HeeHaw-ley focused on SCOTUS nominee Katanji Brown-Jackson, claiming she didn’t sentence CP offenses harshly enough
Saud Anwar (D), CT State Senator: Bullied an anti-registry activist that spoke out against his proposed bill to force nursing homes to conduct background checks for admitting new patients.
Chad Christensen, Idaho State Rep.: Went on insane Facebook rant after his Mandatory Minimums bill, which included penalties for FTRs, failed to pass. “My current bill to give convicted sex offenders 5 years mandatory prison time might not be very popular with some. I have a feeling it wouldn't be popular with this individual that called me.”
David Love, NH State Rep: Falsely claimed a drag queen was groping kids at a local library and implied the drag queen was on the public registry.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Russia Parliament: Just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, Volodin appealed to American extremists by stating he wanted to send persons convicted of sex offenses to the arctic.
