Former Priest and Talk Show Host Indicted
Popular liberal talk radio show host and former Catholic Priest Bernie Ward has been indicted on federal child pornography charges.
The 56-year old Ward surrendered to federal authorities yesterday.
It seems, however, that the story may not be as simple as some may think: according to his lawyer – Weinberg – he downloaded “a few” images back in 2004 when he was doing research for a book (about America’s hypocrisy). This violated the letter of the law, the lawyers said authorities told him, but – again according to this lawyer – no one believes that Ward is a “child predator.”
“They investigated and they never found any involvement in child pornography other than this period that he accessed these images,” Weinberg said. “The government knows that Bernie was doing this for an investigation he was doing for a book. But the government believes he violated the letter of the law and they have gone ahead and prosecuted him.”
The government seized his computer in 2005 but found no evidence of child pornography or any other impropriety.
We’ll see where this goes. Authorities have to be aggressive with regards to child pornography / pedophiles, but a too aggressive approach will result in wrongful convictions. Child pornography is bad, but being wrongfully accused of being a child predator isn’t a joyful experience either I’d say.
Only time will tell whether he’s making up excuses or whether he just made a stupid mistake.
More at Macsmind and JammieWearingFool. The latter, by the way, links to this article: As part of the research for the book, Weinberg says Ward acquired several images of child porn from websites, and ‘he exchanged them with adults who do the same thing’.”
Um. Frankly, that’s a bit a curious explanation.
O, and: “By the way, Weinberg says Ward never finished the book, that the FBI raid killed the project.”
Good. Is there any proof that he was actually working on the book or what?
Innocent until proven guilty, but it surely is suspicious.
I can’t say whether it makes sense that the raid killed the project considering the investigation (alleged) should have been finished by then. I also think he should have been very careful about sending the images further – even though it could check out that the adressees seem "legit" it points in the wrong direction for him. In short, there is no reason to deplore him or feel sorry for him yet, but I guess no one was going anywhere with this at this stage.
Ah, yes. The “Pete Townshend” defense.
Tully – I thought that Pete’s defense worked for him. He could also claim deafness as an excuse
BJ has a post – Big Brother watches your Router!! – about a new law making wireless routers owners responsible for any "porn" downloaded over their connection. If your neighbor hijacks your router to look at "kiddee porn" they’ll kick in your door while arresting him.
"If your neighbor hijacks your router to look at "kiddee porn" they’ll kick in your door while arresting him."
EMPTY MORALISM – "Because caring for kids means that adults need to be subject to legal bumf that can ruin their lives"
He could go with the Elton John defense instead, and say he only looked at kiddie porn that was art.
Saw that router bill. Goes to show the level of techno-moronity in Congress.
Oh, and Townshend was placed on the Sex Offender registry for five years, and has to get government waivers to travel overseas. Even though they concluded he was innocent after a lengthy investigation that included confiscating all of his computers for six months.