Edgemere Man Charged In Sex Offense Against Essex Boy

John July 26, 2012 at 06:07 pm

I am not, will not and cannot excuse the actions of this 36 year old man. He should go to jail for a very long time if not forever for what he has done. But I also have to ask, what's wrong with this boy's parents? Do they ever look at what their son is doing with his cell phone or on his computer? Do they have a clue? The sole purpose for the Grinder app when it was created was to help gay and bisexual men hook-up. The site claims to have over 4 million male members. A minutes of a parent's time to see what this boy was doing could have prevented them from meeting. Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing in cyber-space. It is not safe. Their are creeps and perverts everywhere looking, waiting to take advantage of children who are unsupervised and don't know the safety rules for the net. PLEASE TREAT YOUR CHILDREN LIKE CHILDREN AND PROTECT THEM; WATCH THEM; BE A PARENT!

funnyguy July 26, 2012 at 07:16 pm

I cant find a "River Drive" in Edgemere Maryland, only a River Drive RD.

openminded July 27, 2012 at 01:10 pm

Please don't be so judgemental.... did you stop to think maybe the parents did look and maybe that's why this creep was caught? Unless we keep put kids on lock down it is impossible.... we educate then trust....sometimes that trust is broken.... and it doesn't take that long for trouble to start.... its amazing to me when outside looking in everyone has all the answers
.......how refreshing what's new

Elaine Williams July 27, 2012 at 08:58 pm

I agree with you John.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty July 27, 2012 at 09:03 pm

Let's see.....if a teenage boy downloads Grindr and lies about his age (which he has to in order to legally download the app). And then he creates a profile on Grindr (which he has to do in order to view others). Might this same teenage boy perhaps lie about his age on his profile?? Anybody know any 13 year olds that could pass for 16, 17, 18?? I do.
How about we all withhold judgement until the facts are known. My hunch is there was some deception going on here....I hope the accused has the resources to get a good attorney.

Elaine Williams July 27, 2012 at 09:06 pm

Openminded, this is not about being judgemental. John is calling attention to the lack of parental supervision. The 13 year old has been meeting with this guy for sex since February! Furthermore, why did this kid have the Grinder App on his phone? When you are the one paying the bills you get to call the shots - that includes cell phone usage. But calling the shots means you have to stay a step ahead in order to run interference, in order to be able to know what you are talking about. And that my friend takes time and effort. I wonder if you'd be so open minded if this 13 year old boy was a girl?

ArcAngel July 28, 2012 at 02:10 am

What are you Podles mother? This guy knows hes got hiv and has unprotected sex anyway. Burn him at the stake!

openminded July 28, 2012 at 02:46 am

Thank you! Please educate yourself....look up what judgemental means... well really judgement....and then post also please tell me you do not to believe what the media says ....it is on every site each with its own little twist ....my family is in law-enforcement ...and said unfortunately this story was mangled.... couldn't give details of course but said they felt for the family....i know...you will say the police are not credible next....

ArcAngel July 28, 2012 at 02:18 pm

Sorry but please clarify which family tje cops felt for. I can't believe they felt for the family that continues to harbor and enable this criminal plague carrying sodomizer. He should qualify for lethal injection, before he dies from his disease, from which I hope he suffers greatly in his time of dying.

We're All Human July 28, 2012 at 05:48 pm

@ArcAngel How about you put yourself in someone else's shoes for a hot minute, if some guy/girl came on to you and said they were 18 would you doubt them? Plus no one knows what this "child" looks like, I am 25 and could pass for 16. No one ever knows the circumstances and where were the parents while this child was disappearing into the night. And by the way how do you know he had unprotected sex? Get the whole story before you speak.

openminded July 28, 2012 at 05:48 pm

Sorry...of the boy i agree with you arc!

Sam Battle July 28, 2012 at 10:45 pm

Get over it people...FACE it you had a 13 year "GAY" kid lie about his age ..go to a "GAY" site and went hunting for "GAY" meat to enjoy by the way it seems and got the devil's due. So what do you want ???? It is clear this young man was gay and went to a 18 and older site and lied to get on it and went hunting meat and found more than he bargined for. As sad as it is ...he was not pulled off the streets by gun point. Not saying none of it is right, but hell you got kids so young now having sex and many looks 18 ..and I thank god everyday I am over 50 and happiy married and not like I was growing up or I be in trouble by looking at some of these young ladies and how they dress and act and talk..SO yea RAISE your Kids right.

Nicole July 29, 2012 at 03:00 am

I agree that parents need to be more cautious and involved in monitoring what their kids are doing especially when it comes to apps, social media etc....as we all know kids are growing up faster these days...def not like it was when I was a kid....it doesn't matter if it was a gay site, hetro site etc....gay or straight, kids lie about their ages all of the time....it doesn't matter.....and yes, there are kids who def look older thatn their age....but 13 yr,. old male saying they are 18, and you can't tell the difference especially as up close and personal as they became??? PLEASE.....I grew up with that sick perv.....and I have NO RESPECT for him or anyone else like him...and it does say that he knowingly gave the kid HIV.....ok, yes they should've used protection (please excuse a 13 yr. old CHILD for not being responsible) REALLY??? In my opinion, anyone making any excuses for the adult in this situation, is just as bad as he is, and probably have done similar things or would do them!! The parents should take blame in not monitoring enough, but like someone said in a prior post.....you cannot keep your kids on lock down, as a parent myself..that is definitely the truth! Steve Podles should (in my opinion) get the maximum punishment for his sick and disturbing crime that he has committed.....and even then, that will never be enough!!

John July 29, 2012 at 11:33 pm

I grew up with the defendant, his family was known to be successful, they went to private schools and all. I think that the victims family played a major part in this....given if it wasn't this 13 year old it could of been another. This is mental illness on both ends, victim and defendant. Society as a whole can be blamed....the websites too. Everything happens for a reason and I'm sure there will be major implications behind this...not to justify these actions but these people are ill, and us parents need to take it to another level with our kids....as I stated I'm not justifying anything, but this 13 year old was on the prowl too and I believe this wasn't his first rodeo....I don't think these situations will ever cease to exist. It all starts in our own families, atleast for me that's what matters. I'm sorry for the victim(s) as well I'm sorry for a childhood friend whom is about to go through hell...and I hope that this will bring about a change in his life for the better....

openminded July 30, 2012 at 01:46 am

I don't think you would feel sorry for him if he had sexual contact with someone you knew...especially knowing he has an STD.....and didn't disclose it...i hope he gets what he deserves.....

ArcAngel July 30, 2012 at 01:53 am

"His family was know to be successful". His father is a notorious slumlord who is storied to have preyed on young women who were short on their rent. The apple doesn't fall far, does it? Just a predator of another type. John says "the victims family played a major part in this". Are you crazy? Because this kid is young and exploring his sexualty, he has a "mental illness"? I ask again, are you nuts? Or just a homophobe? And ... the coup de gras ... you're sorry Poddles is about to go through hell? You have a mental illness. He deserves to die for his crime.

blueeyes August 1, 2012 at 12:22 pm

This guy its sick and needs to be put away. Parents cannot be around be around there kids 24 hours but they should teach then the right morals and hope they use them. I agree with angel his father is a slumlord. Who cheats his tenants out of there money. The son prays on little kids and the father prays on women who don't know there rights as a tenant. Like father like son.

Ronald Cushing August 2, 2012 at 03:01 pm

You are right about this family the father is a slumloard he rents to people he can take advantage of the police are allways at his apartments .If he had his way Egdmere wood be one big slum .Like father like so .

John August 4, 2012 at 01:30 am

Hmmmm, had this kid not have registered on as adult website since he was "exploring"....lol...yea sure he was exploring....he was on there for a reason...had he not, you wouldn't be calling me sick, homophobe , nuts, having a mental illness...and what else? That's cool though..."He who is without sin cast the first stone"

fallen Angel August 4, 2012 at 01:35 am

hmmmmm......well i can say as a survivor of sexual abuse its very painful to see that when one has money and is of 'privilege'how things seem to get muddled in order to see the victim as the criminal? REALLY????exploring his sexuality????I'll bet you any amount of MONEY yes MONEY is at the root of this mess!!!! these kids hear about these sites from their friends and they tell one and the next and so on.these guy's go 'trolling' on these site's just looking for 'fresh meat'.so let's call a spade a spade....Jerry Sandusky thought these boy's were having consentual sex with him!!! I can recall back in the day going into night clubs getting served alcohol and when these club's got busted did the club have a defense 'oh ,she looked like she was 21 when in fact i was 16! and another fact is that when children are not privileged enough as far as money goes these site's are where they go shopping for their next pair of tennis shoes.So leave the kid out of the equation and look at the responsibility Steven Podles must bare.He new good and well what he was doing and this "A'INT HIS FIRST RODEO". SHAME ON YOU STEVEN PODLES you are not worthy of air space.But...the reality of the matter is that Steven Podles is goint to walk because is from a family of privilege and this boy's family is not.Oh and i'll lay money on this one .....there are a few more out there and because of shame won't come forward for fear of what's going on thus far...that 10 yr.old...12 yr.old 13 yr.will die of aids

Bobby Podles September 24, 2012 at 07:17 pm

You are right Nicole.I grew up witht Robert his loser brother. They all are scum. Steven needs to get ass fucked every day in jail for the next 30 years which I hear is what he will get. I hope I get on the jury. I will fry his ass for sure!!!

paul williams September 24, 2012 at 09:22 pm

same place

Bryan P. Sears (Editor) September 24, 2012 at 09:54 pm

A comment by user "Bobby Podles" was removed because it violated Patch's terms of use prohibiting abusive language and obscenities.

Ron Fedele February 12, 2013 at 11:27 am

Tomorrow he is going to JAIL!!!

Nicole H February 14, 2013 at 07:26 pm

HE GOT 2 YEARS!!!!!!!!!

Nic H February 14, 2013 at 07:29 pm

He got TWO YEARS and is a registered SEX OFFENDER!!