The Latest Scott Ritter Sex Sting Press Coverage - Story is Spreading, slowly...

Various | January 20, 2003

[Timesink]

Latest Capital News 9 article (Albany):

Articles report dismissed charges

Updated: 1/20/2003 12:36 PM

By: Capital News 9 web staff

According to newspaper reports this weekend, former UN weapons inspector and Delmar native Scott Ritter was arrested for a Class B misdemeanor.

The Daily Gazette and Daily News said the incident happened back in June 2001. All records in the case, including the nature of the arrest have since been sealed.

A veteran Albany County Assistant District Attorney was fired as a result of how the case was handled.

District Attorney Paul Clyne has an office policy to always be informed when cases of a sensitive nature arise.

He said he was shocked when he heard about the Ritter case, and fired Cynthia Preiser after 15 years of service.

Both Ritter and his attorney declined comment on the case.
Efforts to reach Cynthia Preiser have also been unsuccessful.

Ritter has appeared as a commentator on national news networks, and right here on Capital News 9.

Ritter gained national attention as a former UN weapons inspector in Iraq for his outspoken opposition to the Bush administration policies in Iraq.

From Fox 23 News - WXXA Albany (This is straight from the newsroom's teleprompter/closed captioning feed), posted approximately noon Eastern:

Ritter Arrested on Sex Charges

FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER A FIXTURE ON LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS SHOWS--- HIS PICTURE NOW GRACING THE AIRWAVES IN DISGRACE AFTER DETAILS OF AN ARREST COME OUT.

REPORTS SHOW SCOTT RITTER OF DELMAR-- -WHO FREQUENTLY SOUNDS OFF IN THE PRESS ON IRAQI ISSUES--- WAS SECRETLY PROSECUTED IN ALBANY COUNTY TWO YEARS AGO AFTER BEING CAUGHT IN AN INTERNET SEX STING OPERATION. THE CASE APPARENTLY SEALED...AND A DEAL STRUCK WITH ONE OF ALBANY COUNTY'S ASSISTANT D-A'S.....THAT D-A NOW FIRED.

AND THE CHARGES AGAINST RITTER JUST NOW COMING TO LIGHT. {realistic thinking, responsible thinking. I spent time in Iraq--I would spend three or four weeks there.}

HIS LOUD CALLS FOR PEACE BRINGING GOVERNMENT SCRUTINY AT EVERY ANGLE...NOW FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR AND DELMAR NATIVE, SCOTT RITTER UNDER SCRUTINY AGAIN-- THIS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL--- FOR SEX CHARGES.

REPORTS SHOW RITTER WAS ARRESTED BY COLONIE POLICE IN JUNE OF 2001 AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY HAD A SEX CONVERSATION ON THE INTERNET WITH AN UNDERAGE GIRL, WHO TURNED OUT TO BE AN UNDERCOVER COP.

RITTER NOT AT HOME TODAY.... HIS WIFE REFUSING TO COMMENT.... {Is there any comment that you'd like to make? no comment what so ever. What about Scott? the same position, he will not make a comment what so ever.}

ASSISTANT D-A, CYNTHIA PRIESER HANDLED THE CASE AGAINST RITTER. REPORTS SHOW THE TWO STRUCK A DEALâ?¦ SEALING THE CASE AND DISMISSING IT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE ARREST.PRIESER NOW FIRED FOR FAILING TO TELL DA PAUL CLYNE THE CASE EVER EXISTED.

NEIGHBORS IN DISBELIEF THAT RITTER, A HUSBAND AND FATHER OF TWO WOULD DO THIS... {I'd be shocked. Scott's a good guy. Every encounter I've ever had with him has been positive. He's been a good neighbor and a friend.} {The timing seems suspicious on top of the origination of some of the allegations.}

RITTER HAS SAID THAT WAR WITH IRAQ SHOULD ONLY BE PURSUED AS A LAST RESORT...THIS OPINION WIDELY CRITICIZED BY MANY POLITICIANS.... NOW HIS OPINION MAY CARRY EVEN LESS WEIGHT IN LIGHT OF THIS SEXUAL SCANDAL.

SCOTT RITTER WAS MOST RECENTLY ON TELEVISION LAST WEEK COMMENTING ON THE DISCOVERY OF EMPTY WARHEADS IN IRAQ. HIS WIFE TELLS US HE'S NOW IN CALIFORNIA.

From WTEN Channel 10 Albany:

Delmar Weapons Inspector in Hot Water

(posted: January 20th, 8:58am) The spotlight is back on former UN Weapons Inspector and Delmar native, Scott Ritter. But it's not over Iraq instead its over charges he talked with an underage girl on the Internet.

The Daily Gazette broke the story over the weekend. The paper says Ritter was arrested in June of 2001 after having a sexual conversation on the Internet with someone he "thought" was an underage girl.

The girl turned out to be an undercover investigator.

[Timesink]

Shermy found the following juicy article (with full accompanying thread):

Albany/Schenectady, NY
Top stories from:

			Police can't confirm Ritter's arrest Controversy surrounds former weapons inspector
			Jan. 20 -- Police released this mugshot following the arrest of William Ritter in June 2001. Lindsay Cohen reports.

ALBANY, NY, Jan. 20 - Scott Ritter of Delmar is well known internationally as an outspoken, former U.N. weapons inspector. Now more information is coming to light about Ritter's past and a disturbing arrest.

More stories from NewsChannel 13

By Lindsay Cohen

COLONIE POLICE CANNOT comment on whether or not they actually arrested Ritter on charges he solicited an underage girl over the Internet.  They say this is because if an arrest was made, it was sealed during court proceedings.      "Well generally speaking, if during the course of a court proceeding the defense asks for a sealing order based on a plea to a very lesser charge, a court can issue that under the CPL 160-50, which basically seals the entire record from the point of its start to the point of its finish," Deputy Police Chief Steve Heider explained.      The Daily Gazette first reported over the weekend that Ritter -- whose full name is William Scott Ritter -- was arrested in June 2001.      The New York Daily News further reported that Ritter's arrest was part of an Internet sting.  The report said he was arrested for having sexual discussions over the Internet with a person he thought was an underage girl. This individual turned out to be an undercover police officer.      Both reports say that Ritter later struck a deal with Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser that allowed the case to be dismissed and the records sealed.  The reports also say Preiser was fired on Friday for failing to inform Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne of the case.      However, NewsChannel 13 reported in June 2001 about an arrest of a 39-year-old William Ritter of Delmar on charges he tried to lure a 16-year-old girl he met on the Internet to a Burger King in Menands.  According to police, the intent of that meeting was so that she could watch him perform sexual acts on himself.      At that time police said William Ritter was arrested before doing anything, but was facing multiple misdemeanor charges for trying to solicit an underage girl for sexual reasons.      Ritter's attorney, Norah Murphy, confirmed that he was arrested in the town of Colonie in June 2001.      Ritter has not returned calls for comment.  His wife told NewsChannel 13 on Sunday that she had no comment on these charges.

By the way, that "play video" button above actually works! (Once you get past the stupid ad.)

[rolling_stone]

Try solicitation of a minor, that might be it NY penal code:

Section 100.08 Criminal solicitation in the third degree

A person is guilty of criminal solicitation in the third degree when, being over eighteen years of age, with intent that another person under sixteen years of age engage in conduct that would constitute a felony, he solicits, requests, commands, importunes or otherwise attempts to cause such other person to engage in such conduct.

Criminal solicitation in the third degree is a class E felony.


http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/nyart100.htm

sex with person under 14 is apparently a class D Felony

Section 130.30 Rape in the second degree

A person is guilty of rape in the second degree when, being eighteen years old or more, he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person to whom the actor is not married less than fourteen years old.

Rape in the second degree is a class D felony.


or even worse:
235.22
http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/ny3(a)(2).htm

Nothing but supposition until the actual facts come out., but all felonies...

[George W. Bush]

"I was shocked and angered to learn that the case had been disposed of by one of my assistant district attorneys without consulting me," Clyne told the paper. "Any arguably sensitive case should be brought to my attention."

Translation of those who don't speak New Yorkese: "My assistant D.A., a Democrat like myself, tried to reap the political profits of service to the Party machine in dealing with the Ritter device privately, cutting me out of the action. So I fired her to make sure my underlings don't undermine my ongoing efforts to accumulate political capital to further my ambitions for higher office on a Party ticket."

[donozark]

Thanks for posting statutes. "All felonies" as you say. However, I would think since (post 38) he was planning on "pleasuring himself" as opposed to an "offensive touching" which most states require (for felony conviction), this action of Ritter's would be a misdemeanor, even if he carried it out(poor choice of words).

Of course it is all conjecture until facts are known-if we can ever find them out.

Boy, I sure feel better knowing the nation's self-appointed, number one authority on Iraq's WMD was a carrot-cuffer!

[Aaron0617]

PMSNBC just reported it on its half hour break.

Mein Fuerer I can Valk!! It has legs and is running.

I hope it continues to spread. In any event I think his commenting career is over.

[rolling_stone]

Yes when i posted that I was not aware of the more recent specifics..does look like a misdemeanor, but it sure has ruined old Scotty boy! I always thought he was a wacko and guess he really is...

[Timesink]

It's being talked about on Usenet!!

"No Comment" by Ritter's Attorney (10 posts

Traitor & Saddam Apologist Scott Ritter Was Arrested In Pedophile Sting? (8 posts>

Ritter BUSTED in Sex Sting. Covered Up. (7 posts)

Scott Ritter. Child Rapist... (24 posts)

Saddam Apologist Scott Ritter Was Arrested Before For Being A Sex Pervert!! LOL! (6 posts)

Scott Ritter's Pedophilia Arrest (9 posts)

Plus many more! Just keep an eye open on Google Groups for the latest.

[mrustow]

While I despise Ritter, the scheme that lead to his arrest stinks of entrapment, and the "crime" has a dubious legal foundation.

[mrustow]

P.S. Should the goverment be in the business of luring people into committing crimes, so it can then arrest them?

[woofie]

Why is this not on Drudge?

[dead]

I read on other threads (so I don't know how reliable this info is) that he was trying to get the phoney 14-year-old to meet him and watch him pleasure himself.

That's quite illegal in the real world and on the internet.

[Timesink]

Why is this not on Drudge?

Send him an email or Instant Message him (mdrudge on AIM).

[woofie]

I sent it yesterday and he talked about it on his radio show last night with Ann Coulter

[Ann Archy]

Ahhh...Scotty's a McInsane supporter!!! That explains just about everything!!

[BullDog108]

For sex perverts and pedophiles: YES!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

NOVAK ON CROSSFORE IS A BIG DEFENDER OF THIS MORON!

[cyncooper]

The daily Chris Matthews Hardball email just came in. It does include a link to the original Daily News story about Ritter. Doesn't necessarily mean Matthews will discuss it on-air, but now we know he knows about it.

Just highlighting that Matthews knows about this.

MSNBC has been referring to this story per other freepers. Donahue just had Ritter on last week, so I'm curious if Donahue will mention it. I do not think he will. I hope Matthews does.