Posted on 10/09/2005 7:24:42 AM PDT by Crackingham
A man who runs a pornographic website that includes pictures of Iraqi war dead has been arrested on sexual obscenity charges. Chris Wilson, a 27-year-old former policeman from Lakeland, was taken into custody Friday night on one felony and 300 misdemeanor indecency counts unrelated to the grisly pictures from Iraq. The charges come a week after his site made national news and launched a Pentagon investigation into how war zone photos of bodies described as victims of U.S. attacks could have surfaced.
Polk County sheriff's officials said he was charged because the website also features sexually explicit pictures and videos that users send of women who are supposedly their wives and girlfriends. Sheriff's officials insist the charges are unrelated to the Iraq pictures, but Wilson's lawyer, Lawrence Walters, disagreed.
''Of all the hundreds of thousands of webmasters in the country, and even in Central Florida, why would Chris Wilson be arrested a week after he hits national spotlight news on the Iraqi war photos?'' asked Walters, a First Amendment specialist. ``I think any reasonable person would be suspicious of that.''
Wilson remained in jail Saturday afternoon after the judge in his initial appearance denied his request to lower the $151,000 bail.
In a recent interview with The Herald, Wilson defended his website.
''What people don't understand is that there's a big difference between what's illegal and what people don't like,'' he said.
Wilson said he started giving soldiers free access after some reported problems paying the $10 membership fee. To make sure he wasn't scammed, Wilson said, he asked for a photograph proving they were serving. He allowed those pictures to be posted on the site, calling it ``a real look at what's going on over there.''
The website remained live Saturday because its servers are in Amsterdam, and Walters said Wilson won't be forced to take it down.
''That would be a First Amendment violation and a violation of his civil rights -- and frankly the rights of everyone across the world who's looking at those pictures,'' he said.

Now the American Constitution applies to "the world"?
No.
The Founders never intended that pornography be protected under the 1st Amendment. That decision should be overturned and any justice voting to preserve porn should be removed and replaced.
and a violation of his civil rights
He has the right to a fast trial and a fair hanging.
Who cares. He's a former police officer who proves how low a pervert can slink into depravity regardless of their occupation by choosing to profit off of porn and gruesome death photos. Hope he and his sick kind burn in eternal hell. His mind is garbage.
I don't understand why arrest him when there are sites that feature naive 18-19yr girls being physically abused (not acting by the way) Why are those webmasters out on the streets?
Also, interesting mix of photos from Iraqi soldiers on that site. Although I don't know why they upload their girlfriends for the world to see...
---Now the American Constitution applies to "the world"? ---
According to liberal justices, the world's laws apply to our constitution.....
..............another indication that we are paying too much in tax.
"Although I don't know why they upload their girlfriends for the world to see"
...
Something tells me the women aren't really their "girlfriends". A lot of sad losers out there pretending to be Joe stud when in reality they're only Napoleon Dynamite. LOL
:P~
Because 2 wrongs don't make a right. Gotta start somewhere.
Although I don't know why they upload their girlfriends for the world to see...
Because they are insecure men who view women as property. Lookee what I got. They somehow think it makes them look good to display their property.

I am sure there are some pretty gruesome pictures of people killed in the war, Hell: for that matter there are some pretty gruesome pictures of people killed on America's highways by drivers who were talking on a cell phone instead of paying attentions to their driving.
I don't. I hope he and his kind find salvation from a loving God who is capable of changing anybodies heart.
If you are a Christian, I hope you rethink your position on hoping anyone suffers eternal damnation.
I don't seem to understand why people are salivating to show photos of "what is going on over there". It's a war and we know that people are getting killed and the only one's I am concerned about are the honest and true Iraqi's who want to better their country through democracy and our own brave men and women. If some terrorist gets waxed I could care less.
later read/ping?
i saw a few of the pictures on another site, some gory stuff for sure, but the site is still up so it's prolly in canaduh or off shore...
"I don't. I hope he and his kind find salvation from a loving God who is capable of changing anybodies heart.
If you are a Christian, I hope you rethink your position on hoping anyone suffers eternal damnation."
...
That is your position on the matter. I'll stick to mine because I have come to the realization that "most" of these depraved men, deep down never change or ever attempt to seek salvation.
Nah, we'll get the usual chorus of moralists looking for his head - I wonder whatever happened to Voltaire's:
I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.
I have seen this site (I think). The "porn" there comes nowhere close to obscene.
The First Amendment, in my mind, does protect the war pictures. These war pictures can easily be construed as political speech. As such, they deserve the highest protection.
I predict the guy will easily beat the obscenity charges and his site will be even more successful.
Such is the typical outcome of knee-jerk government reactions such as this.
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