Posted on 11/09/2004 10:33:33 AM PST by ArmyBratCutie
Astronaut's Son Held on Sex Charges
SAN FRANCISCO (Nov. 8) - The son of Mercury astronaut Walter Schirra has been arrested on child sex tourism charges, federal authorities said Monday.
Walter Schirra, 54, was arrested at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday morning just before he was to board a flight to Thailand where he allegedly intended to solicit sex from underage boys, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a search, federal officials said they found 15 to 20 images of child pornography on Schirra's home computer.
Schirra, a property manager, was charged under the PROTECT Act, legislation signed into law in April 2003 to crack down on sex tourism.
Schirra, who is in federal custody, appeared in court Monday morning, but has not yet entered a plea. He was expected to appear in court later this week. It was unclear if he has an attorney.
Schirra's father, also named Walter, was one of the seven original Mercury astronauts in the country's first space program.
11/08/04 21:57 EST
That's ugly.
"Houston... he's got a problem."
..but does he have bed sheet?
re-entry or re*r-entry?
He wanted to go where no man had gone before.
( d u c k i n g )
How heartbreaking this must be for his father. Wally Schirra was my favorite astronaut - handsome, witty, The Right Stuff.
I'm sure the hollywood haflwits are proud of him for making a stand though ! </sarcasm> (ooh my first code usage on FR woohoo)
He commanded Apollo 7 as well, making him the only astronaut to have flown in all three programs (although Gus Grissom would have been the first if he hadn't died in the Apollo 1 fire).
I wonder how many trips to Thailand little Ronnie Reagan has taken?
While I'm not 100% certain, I believe the astronaut died some years ago.
I met Wally Schirra Sr many years ago and was impressed by grace and intellect.
A charming man, and very interesting to talk to.
Why didn't he just get together with michael sicko jackson???????
Just checked "Dead or Alive": Scott Carpenter, John Glenn, and Wally Schirra are the three remaining Mercury astronauts.
Thanks. I don't know why I had it in my head that Wally Schirra died some time back. I must be confusing him with one of the other original astronauts.
I feel bad for his dad tho!
Not true. Still alive at this time. This might kill him, though. I met Schirra when I was a college student. I recognized him, which seemed to surprise him. He was most gracious.
I don't see the crime here. What is illegal about getting on a plane with illegal thoughts? No crime has been committed yet.
I think there is nothing more discusting than a pedifile but I fail to see the crime here.
I know, spell check is our friend and I tried to use it. {hit the wrong button}
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