Michael Fortino with Colin Powell
No, doesn't look familiar. Hope there aren't pics of Bush posing next to this guy.
Posted on 12/06/2005 6:06:10 PM PST by Serious Capitalist
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A nationally known motivational speaker is facing child pornography charges. Police in Arkansas arrested Michael Fortino -- a man who lives in Pittsburgh, but travels the world. Fortino's Web site has been shut down, but a cached version of it showcases him as a motivational speaker. He was apparently in Arkansas to give one of those speeches when he was arrested.
"For every one time somebody does something wrong, it takes four rights just to break even," said Fortino on a clip on his Web site. Now, police have charged him with three counts of possessing child pornography. Police said Fortino took his computer to a Best Buy store, in Fayetteville, Ark., to be repaired. Store technicians found several pictures of children engaged in sexual acts on the computer hard drive, officials said. Former President Bill Clinton once praised Fortino, and President George W. Bush has called him a role model for future generations. Fortino and his wife live in a 9,000-square-foot home on the North Side. It's known as the "mayor's mansion" because it was built back in the 1890s for the man who was then the mayor of what was called Allegheny City -- now the North Side. Neighbors and friends said they were surprised to learn of the charges against him. "That's a big shock. You would have never known that about the guy," said neighbor Sonny Johnson. Fortino has been released on bond, and will be arraigned later this month. Channel 4 Action News tried to contact Fortino, but he did not return calls.
Donnie Darko?
Pingable?
I can't comment on his guilt in this.
but where is the chain of custody for this computer, such that someone at the repair place at best buy couldn't copy those photos off a floppy to his system? and why are the repair techs scouring his hard drive for photos (of any kind) anyway?
No, doesn't look familiar. Hope there aren't pics of Bush posing next to this guy.
You are right and he will probably be found innocent or the charges dropped because of what you point out. Unfortunately, the damages has been done. He may make a penny or two of Best Buy, though.
They always do. They snoop at everything, your internet history, documents, pictures, emails, etc.
If you would be bothered by your mom, dad, wife/husband, employer, the police, priest/rabbi, or children knowing that you have anything in particular on your computer - or having it freed into the wild:
Don't put it there in the first place.
Otherwise, if you have documents, images, movies, or whatever that you want to keep private, of all things, DO NOT let a computer tech near your computer. I have enough friends in the business to know that the only thing stopping them from snooping would be you standing behind them during the repair.
Actually according to another local story he admitted to Fayetteville police taping young girls changing their clothes on his boat. http://nwanews.com/nwat/News/35032/
This cannot make his friends that are fathers of girls very happy.
It's an interesting question. Why would somebody that would have had to know that such pics were on his system, take said system to Best Buy without removing them first?
Unless he didn't know they were there.
It does remain the world's most perfect way to ruin somebody. Just copy a few files over into some place where they're unlikely to notice... the presumption of guilt in these sorts of cases is so strong that there is simply no chance that their reputation will ever recover.
Colin Powell doesn't look like he cares much.
Well... a confession changes the math somewhat.
I know nothing about him and he may be guilty but it sure sounds strange that he would have it on his computer and then take the machine in for repairs. Lot's of people may have had access . That may be why it messed up. Ours shuts down and I have to put a password to re-open. Not bad stuff but too many people were opening games and sites and we kept having to clean and reboot.
True - and what about the various virus attacks and pop-up junk? Do any of those have porn on them? (Not sure anymore, I've got my IE beefed up from 4 directions and rarely see any advertising) If it's advertising with pictures then almost anyone without adequate internet security could get caught and accused even if they never saw the photos themselves.
I have no clue who this guy is, I can't recall hearing the name before. I would hate to see him burn for something he wasn't guilty of, though.
As far as repair techs looking at the stuff on a hard drive, I don't know why they do it. I do know that even though I don't have anything illegal on my computer, I will fix it myself. (Or have my husband do it if it's above my level of knowledge) I don't need other people seeing the pictures of my kids, seeing my contact list, my political leanings, anything that isn't their business. I'll buy a new drive and copy stuff onto floppies before letting non-family have that access. (That's why I have a back up on cd of all critical and personal info.)
I wish I had read your post before I posted mine:'(
I mean, people have banking and financial records, credit card receipts, etc. you can't get a PC repaired in this country now without getting wiped out?
"in a VAN down by the RIVER!"
I should have found the confession article and posted it first, instead of the original article.
Well, a confession certainly complicates any defense. I am not sure, but I think I now remember that by law people who develop pictures, repair computers, cameras, etc., must reports things like this to police. Shoots my theory to .....
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