The Worst Predator Is Also The Least Known

     For most TCAP fans, the name John Gardner Mahon stirs up... nothing, really. But I'll say his name again because it bears repeating and he certainly deserves to be haunted for this offense for the rest of his life. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon. John Gardner Mahon.

     Because 51 predators showed up in Riverside, California, between January 6th and January 8th, 2006, and the episode was only 120 minutes long, many men were not shown, and some who were shown were only briefly featured in video snippets entering or fleeing the house. John Gardner Mahon was one of these men. Incorrectly identified as "John Mahon Gardner" by Perverted Justice, he entered the house, replied simply, "No," when Chris Hansen asked him to have a seat, and walked out of the house, where he was arrested by the Riverside Sheriff's Office without incident.

     His journey in this case didn't go back much further than that. While Anthony Sorrentino from Flagler Beach is often considered the "fast mover" predator, Mahon's was the shortest chat in show history. In a span of 23 minutes (between 11:42 AM and 12:05 PM), "OjaiRadDad" found out "RiverRidzz13" was a 13-year-old boy named Luke. He immediately informed the boy that he was from Arcadia, called the boy hot, said he wanted to meet in a hotel room for sex, asked the boy if he was a virgin, and agreed to anally penetrate the boy "bareback" with "lots of lube." When "Luke" was worried it would hurt, Mahon said he would be "slow and gentle." And that was it. Mahon said "l8r" and drove to the sting house, going so far as to use OnStar when he got lost looking for the Mira Loma residence.

     The story gets more perverted. As his screen name implies, he was a single dad, raising two male children born in 1988 and 1994, respectively. In spite of this, his short, direct chat implies that he is possibly the most experienced predator in show history. Every source that has discussed him, from Perverted Justice to the Temple of TCAP, notes that he seems to have zero hesitation, as if there is something methodical and average about his attempted statutory rape of a boy roughly the age of his own sons.

     He was one of the first predators to take a plea bargain, which also raises questions about whether he was worried about other victims testifying against him. Because he had two children, authorities wanted to spare him the 1-3 year prison term most Riverside predators got. Instead, he pled guilty to an attempt to commit lewd or lascivious acts with a child, ultimately being sentenced in 2008 to 4 months in jail (120 days served on 60 consecutive weekends) and 3 years of probation. Thankfully, he got lifetime registration as a sex offender.

     Because of his short chat and obscure status, what he did for a living was never known. He had two children, so he obviously had some extended relationship with a woman, although his predilection toward chatting with young males (he identified himself as a "top") likely explains why he was a single dad. What we do know is that he was born on May 22nd, 1950, and lives in a small home still somehow valued at $700,000; his address is 295 Monte Via Avenue in Oak View, California.

     He was never convicted before and has yet to be convicted again. He is now 71 years old, and one can only hope that he did not have any other victims and that he spends his remaining days as he has lived the rest of his life: quiet obscurity. One can hope.

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