Last year, a federal grand jury charged him with three counts of child pornography, and just days ago — in a plea deal — the man admitted guilt to one count of distributing child porn.
Notwithstanding his betrayal of the public trust, the man’s crimes were characterized by one of his defense attorneys as “‘aberrational’ and inconsistent with his history as a dedicated police officer and conscientious citizen.”
Another defense attorney allowed as how “There’s no question that [his client] lived an exemplary life up to this point.” The attorney further claimed his client’s “conduct was not personally violent.” (I get it. Defense attorneys are supposed to present their clients as upstanding members of the community.)
Thankfully, a resolute US Assistant Attorney rejected these defense portrayals, noting the nature of sexual acts perpetrated on children is (and should be justifiably categorized as) the very definition of violence!
Why should this news story matter to me? I don’t know this fellow nor am I acquainted with his family or anyone related to the crime. But the story reminds me, once again, how deceitful are those people who insist pornography is a “victimless crime.” What bilge!
I grieve for this man and the damage his actions have foisted upon (who-knows-how-many?) others! Some questions for the defense attorneys: what possesses a supposedly “exemplary” individual … a husband … a father … a police officer … to consider this behavior acceptable? And what about the degradation inflicted upon the children whose images this “conscientious citizen” admitted to distributing?
Don’t get me wrong. I acknowledge this former officer’s culpability in digging his own hole, but in truth, that’s the story of addiction, isn’t it? People who would never smoke a joint or willingly inject a needle are finding their enslavement to pornography just as insidious ... and addictive ... and destructive.
When will society decide the human toll of pornography (and its residual debasement of the human psyche) has become too much? Not soon enough.
