| Child Pornography |
| Federal judges argue for reduced sentences for child-porn convicts |
The explosive growth of electronic
technologies and the Internet makes
every household and cell phone
vulnerable to receiving these images. The
possession of a single image will result in
a felony offense and lifetime registration
as a sex offender in most states and
classification at the highest level of those
registries regardless of the fact that the
offender had no part in the production,
publication, or transportation of the image.
The fact that there was no contact with
the victim, that the image may have been
produced legally at its origin, or that the
individual possessing the image had no
part in causing the production of the
image and may not even have 'requested'
the image has no bearing on the sentence
imposed for said possession.
[Click here for more]
technologies and the Internet makes
every household and cell phone
vulnerable to receiving these images. The
possession of a single image will result in
a felony offense and lifetime registration
as a sex offender in most states and
classification at the highest level of those
registries regardless of the fact that the
offender had no part in the production,
publication, or transportation of the image.
The fact that there was no contact with
the victim, that the image may have been
produced legally at its origin, or that the
individual possessing the image had no
part in causing the production of the
image and may not even have 'requested'
the image has no bearing on the sentence
imposed for said possession.
[Click here for more]
Studies show that
consuming child
pornography alone
is not a risk factor
for committing
hands on sex
offense. The
majority of those
investigated had no
previous
convictions for
hands-on sex
offenses.
[click here for study]
consuming child
pornography alone
is not a risk factor
for committing
hands on sex
offense. The
majority of those
investigated had no
previous
convictions for
hands-on sex
offenses.
[click here for study]
| 'Accidental' Download Sending Man To Prison |
Matthew White, 22, said he was surfing for
pornography two years ago on Limewire --
a fire sharing application that allows users
to trade music, movies, games and pictures
-- when he discovered that some of the files
he had downloaded were images of
children.
Matt claims he quickly erased the files. "It
didn't appeal to me," he said. "I was looking
for women my age, so I just wanted to
download 'College Girls Gone Wild' and
accidentally downloaded underage
pornography."
Facing 20 years in prison for possessing
child pornography, Matt is pleading guilty
on the advice of his public defender in
hopes of getting a three and a half year
sentence. He will also serve 10 years
probation and have to register as a sex
offender for the rest of his life.
[Click here for article]
pornography two years ago on Limewire --
a fire sharing application that allows users
to trade music, movies, games and pictures
-- when he discovered that some of the files
he had downloaded were images of
children.
Matt claims he quickly erased the files. "It
didn't appeal to me," he said. "I was looking
for women my age, so I just wanted to
download 'College Girls Gone Wild' and
accidentally downloaded underage
pornography."
Facing 20 years in prison for possessing
child pornography, Matt is pleading guilty
on the advice of his public defender in
hopes of getting a three and a half year
sentence. He will also serve 10 years
probation and have to register as a sex
offender for the rest of his life.
[Click here for article]
From New York to Chicago, and recently
in Denver, federal judges have testified
before the commission, which sets federal
punishments, that the current sentencing
structure for possessing and viewing child
pornography is too severe.
Judges, for the most part, have based
their argument on a belief that some of the
defendants who view child pornography
have never molested a child or posed a
risk to the community and may be better
served by treatment rather than prison.
[Click here for article]
in Denver, federal judges have testified
before the commission, which sets federal
punishments, that the current sentencing
structure for possessing and viewing child
pornography is too severe.
Judges, for the most part, have based
their argument on a belief that some of the
defendants who view child pornography
have never molested a child or posed a
risk to the community and may be better
served by treatment rather than prison.
[Click here for article]
Are people who download and view child
pornography -- but aren't themselves
molesters -- as much of a threat to society
as rapists or murderers? The question,
being raised by federal judges in response
to tough sentences meted out to
consumers of child pornography, goes to
society's view of repugnant behavior and
the legislative response to it.
The average federal prison sentence for
individuals who possess, receive or share
child pornography jumped to roughly
seven years in fiscal 2006 from about
three years in 1994, according to Justice
Department data. In federal cases, the
mandatory minimum for downloading
images is five years in prison without
parole. Defendants who download
particularly lewd images, possess a large
number of images or share some of them
with others often get sentences of 15 or
even 20 years.
Some judges and other critics of the
sentences say they stem from lawmakers'
exaggerated reactions to societal alarm
over very real problems. In sentencing a
defendant in July to five years in prison
rather than the minimum recommended
sentence of eight years, William
Griesback, a federal judge in Green Bay,
Wis., wrote: "The fact that a person was
stimulated by digital depictions of child
pornography does not mean that he has or
will in the future seek to assault a child."
This perspective, of a potential for danger,
troubles Troy Stabenow, a public defender
in Jefferson City, Mo., whose critique of
child pornography sentences has been
cited by judges. "You shouldn't punish
someone for something they haven't done
-- it's not American," he says.
[Click here for full article]
pornography -- but aren't themselves
molesters -- as much of a threat to society
as rapists or murderers? The question,
being raised by federal judges in response
to tough sentences meted out to
consumers of child pornography, goes to
society's view of repugnant behavior and
the legislative response to it.
The average federal prison sentence for
individuals who possess, receive or share
child pornography jumped to roughly
seven years in fiscal 2006 from about
three years in 1994, according to Justice
Department data. In federal cases, the
mandatory minimum for downloading
images is five years in prison without
parole. Defendants who download
particularly lewd images, possess a large
number of images or share some of them
with others often get sentences of 15 or
even 20 years.
Some judges and other critics of the
sentences say they stem from lawmakers'
exaggerated reactions to societal alarm
over very real problems. In sentencing a
defendant in July to five years in prison
rather than the minimum recommended
sentence of eight years, William
Griesback, a federal judge in Green Bay,
Wis., wrote: "The fact that a person was
stimulated by digital depictions of child
pornography does not mean that he has or
will in the future seek to assault a child."
This perspective, of a potential for danger,
troubles Troy Stabenow, a public defender
in Jefferson City, Mo., whose critique of
child pornography sentences has been
cited by judges. "You shouldn't punish
someone for something they haven't done
-- it's not American," he says.
[Click here for full article]
| The Child Porn Virus: A WAFF 48 News Special Report |
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- Crimes
exploiting children are ethically, socially,
and criminally wrong. Just being
associated with the term "pedophile" can
bring shame to the person involved as well
their family and friends. "You're always a
sex offender," said a convicted sex
offender. He's sharing his sorrows in
exchange for sealing his identity. He's not
denying a crime that's shadowed in deep
regrets.
"What I've done to myself, to my family, my
friends. The embarrassment that it has
caused everybody else." The shame, the
stigma he must stomach for the rest of his
life. "Even myself, before I got into trouble,
whenever I heard the word sex offender or
sexual predator, I always thought of a child
molester." Now imagine your world turned
upside down by a knock at the door.
Police are on the other side, accusing you
of one of the most heinous crimes known
to man. No amount of money for legal fee's
can fend off the stigma -- you're now
labeled a pedophile for the rest of your life.
An Associated Press investigation found
some disturbing cases in which innocent
people have been branded pedophiles.
Co-workers or loved ones stumbling upon
child porn placed on a PC through a virus.
Pranksters or someone trying to frame
you, tapping an Internet connection to
make it appear you surf illegal web sites.
They may also be pedophiles themselves,
storing their stash without fear of being
caught. You get the point -- but whatever
the motivation -- you also get child porn on
your computer.
This cyber-crimes specialist down-plays
the likely-hood of having a pedophile store
their porn on your PC, but said
accusations aren't totally un-common.
"Commonly in a some kind of domestic
dispute, a divorce or child custody battle,
one of the other spouses may call on the
other, say 'my spouse or ex spouse has
child pornography on their computer.'
Many of the times, we found, it was placed
their by the spouse who had called in."
[Click here for full article]
exploiting children are ethically, socially,
and criminally wrong. Just being
associated with the term "pedophile" can
bring shame to the person involved as well
their family and friends. "You're always a
sex offender," said a convicted sex
offender. He's sharing his sorrows in
exchange for sealing his identity. He's not
denying a crime that's shadowed in deep
regrets.
"What I've done to myself, to my family, my
friends. The embarrassment that it has
caused everybody else." The shame, the
stigma he must stomach for the rest of his
life. "Even myself, before I got into trouble,
whenever I heard the word sex offender or
sexual predator, I always thought of a child
molester." Now imagine your world turned
upside down by a knock at the door.
Police are on the other side, accusing you
of one of the most heinous crimes known
to man. No amount of money for legal fee's
can fend off the stigma -- you're now
labeled a pedophile for the rest of your life.
An Associated Press investigation found
some disturbing cases in which innocent
people have been branded pedophiles.
Co-workers or loved ones stumbling upon
child porn placed on a PC through a virus.
Pranksters or someone trying to frame
you, tapping an Internet connection to
make it appear you surf illegal web sites.
They may also be pedophiles themselves,
storing their stash without fear of being
caught. You get the point -- but whatever
the motivation -- you also get child porn on
your computer.
This cyber-crimes specialist down-plays
the likely-hood of having a pedophile store
their porn on your PC, but said
accusations aren't totally un-common.
"Commonly in a some kind of domestic
dispute, a divorce or child custody battle,
one of the other spouses may call on the
other, say 'my spouse or ex spouse has
child pornography on their computer.'
Many of the times, we found, it was placed
their by the spouse who had called in."
[Click here for full article]
| Illinois soldier held in Afghanistan on child porn charges after receiving photos of young relative |
An Illinois National Guard soldier in
Afghanistan has been charged by the U.S.
Army with possessing child pornography
over pictures of a young relative his mother
says she sent him.
Terri Miller of Galesburg says she sent her
son, Specialist Billy Miller, pictures of the
little girl to help him get over his
homesickness.
The pictures show the child in a swimsuit
playing a wading pool and sitting on a truck.
In one, the girl is wearing a swim suit and
part of her buttocks are exposed.
The Army says Miller will stay in
Afghanistan until his court martial. His unit
came home last August. Miller faces jail
time, if convicted.
Terri Miller says the pictures are innocent.
She says her son is close to the girl.
Afghanistan has been charged by the U.S.
Army with possessing child pornography
over pictures of a young relative his mother
says she sent him.
Terri Miller of Galesburg says she sent her
son, Specialist Billy Miller, pictures of the
little girl to help him get over his
homesickness.
The pictures show the child in a swimsuit
playing a wading pool and sitting on a truck.
In one, the girl is wearing a swim suit and
part of her buttocks are exposed.
The Army says Miller will stay in
Afghanistan until his court martial. His unit
came home last August. Miller faces jail
time, if convicted.
Terri Miller says the pictures are innocent.
She says her son is close to the girl.
| Soldier's family says photos are not child porn |
The parents of a Galesburg soldier charged
with possessing child pornography in
Afghanistan say he did nothing wrong and
are furious about the way he is being
treated by military authorities.
Spec. Billy Miller, 24, was due to return
from Afghanistan last September, but his
tour of duty has been involuntarily extended
while he awaits a court martial on charges
of failing to obey a general order and
possession of child pornography.
Miller’s mother, Terri, said the family e-
mailed their son pictures of his 4-year-old
niece last summer. The pictures show the
girl in a swimming suit and were taken
during her birthday party last summer while
Billy was in Afghanistan. Terri said Billy is
very close to his niece. The pictures were
on Billy’s laptop, which the Army has
confiscated.
[Click here for full story]
with possessing child pornography in
Afghanistan say he did nothing wrong and
are furious about the way he is being
treated by military authorities.
Spec. Billy Miller, 24, was due to return
from Afghanistan last September, but his
tour of duty has been involuntarily extended
while he awaits a court martial on charges
of failing to obey a general order and
possession of child pornography.
Miller’s mother, Terri, said the family e-
mailed their son pictures of his 4-year-old
niece last summer. The pictures show the
girl in a swimming suit and were taken
during her birthday party last summer while
Billy was in Afghanistan. Terri said Billy is
very close to his niece. The pictures were
on Billy’s laptop, which the Army has
confiscated.
[Click here for full story]
| Federal judges argue for reduced sentences for child-porn convicts |
"For at least one year and possibly longer,
the defendant, in the privacy of his small
condominium, used a single computer to
download child pornography," Golla wrote.
"He never chatted with anyone on the
Internet regarding the images he
possessed, never used the material to
entice a child, nor did he produce,
distribute, or trade any of the images. Mr.
Ilgen has never had inappropriate contact
with a child."
"It is too often the case that a defendant
appears to be a social misfit looking at
dirty pictures in the privacy of his own
home without any real prospect of
touching or otherwise acting out as to any
person," U.S. District Judge Robin J.
Cauthron of Oklahoma City said in her
testimony to the commission. "As foul as
child pornography is, I am unpersuaded by
the suggestion that a direct link has been
proven between viewing child porn and
molesting children."
[Click here for article]
the defendant, in the privacy of his small
condominium, used a single computer to
download child pornography," Golla wrote.
"He never chatted with anyone on the
Internet regarding the images he
possessed, never used the material to
entice a child, nor did he produce,
distribute, or trade any of the images. Mr.
Ilgen has never had inappropriate contact
with a child."
"It is too often the case that a defendant
appears to be a social misfit looking at
dirty pictures in the privacy of his own
home without any real prospect of
touching or otherwise acting out as to any
person," U.S. District Judge Robin J.
Cauthron of Oklahoma City said in her
testimony to the commission. "As foul as
child pornography is, I am unpersuaded by
the suggestion that a direct link has been
proven between viewing child porn and
molesting children."
[Click here for article]
| Stories |
| Articles |
David believed he was viewing adult
pornography, which had a disclaimer that
stated all girls were of legal age. He found
out later 2 images he saved were girls only
16. He is now a sex offender for life.
pornography, which had a disclaimer that
stated all girls were of legal age. He found
out later 2 images he saved were girls only
16. He is now a sex offender for life.
Phillip was 18 when he was charged with
distributing child pornography and put on
the sex offenders registry because after a
fight, he sent a photograph of his nude 16
year old girlfriend by e-mail to dozens of
people, including her parents.
distributing child pornography and put on
the sex offenders registry because after a
fight, he sent a photograph of his nude 16
year old girlfriend by e-mail to dozens of
people, including her parents.
A mother's fear for her son's future.
Shawn was looking at pornography and
rather than treatment, he's doing 10
years in prison.
Shawn was looking at pornography and
rather than treatment, he's doing 10
years in prison.
A young man's life is ruined because he
wanted to make money. He had no idea
what was about to happen to him for the
things he was selling on Ebay.
wanted to make money. He had no idea
what was about to happen to him for the
things he was selling on Ebay.
Carrie's boyfriend is a sex offender for
downloading child pornography when
he was a teenager. Is he a sexual
predator?
downloading child pornography when
he was a teenager. Is he a sexual
predator?
| More Coming Soon |
Craig downloaded inappropriate
pictures of underage females from free
image boards on the Internet and was
convicted of possession of child
pornography.
pictures of underage females from free
image boards on the Internet and was
convicted of possession of child
pornography.
Brian ordered 2 tapes of teenagers off
the internet. At the time, he really didn’t
comprehend the wrongfulness of doing
this.
the internet. At the time, he really didn’t
comprehend the wrongfulness of doing
this.