Feds seek 9-year term for ex-KGO host Bernie Ward in child-porn case

SFGate.com ^ | 8/21/08 | Bob Egelko

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal prosecutors are recommending a nine-year prison sentence for Bernie Ward, the liberal radio talk show host who pleaded guilty in May to distributing child pornography.

Ward, 57, a former Roman Catholic priest, spent 24 years with KGO-AM in San Francisco, as a reporter and later as the host of a talk show that ran three hours every weeknight. The station fired him in December after his federal grand jury indictment was unsealed.

Ward was charged with two counts of distributing and one count of receiving Internet images of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to one charge of distributing child pornography in exchange for dismissal of the other two charges.

As part of his plea agreement, Ward admitted that he had sent between 15 and 150 pornographic images by e-mail.

Ward maintains that he downloaded the images as part of his research for a book on hypocrisy among Americans who preach morality. Prosecutors said Ward was actually part of a group that traded pornographic images and noted that the law, in any event, prohibits possessing, receiving or distributing child pornography, regardless of intent.

[Lurker]

Bye bye Bernie. Have fun in the Federal slam.

He's going to be extremely popular with the GP there. And since this is Federal time, he'll do damn near every day.

L

[djsherin]

God only knows what he did as a priest... people who take advantage of religion and priesthood deserve every bit of punishment they receive, and probably more too.

[trisham]

Ward maintains that he downloaded the images as part of his research for a book on hypocrisy among Americans who preach morality. Prosecutors said Ward was actually part of a group that traded pornographic images and noted that the law, in any event, prohibits possessing, receiving or distributing child pornography, regardless of intent.

*******************

Wow. He's accusing others of hypocrisy? I sincerely hope he gets what he deserves. A lengthy jail sentence, imho.

[fieldmarshaldj]

And an ex-Priest, too. That’ll go over reallll well.

[mad_as_he$$]

Lock that fat F’er up and throw away the key. I always knew Bernie was off and I have waited for this day for years. Rabid, bloviating, fat gasbag for the left. Scumbag had the gall to run charities for kids during the holidays.

[Antique Gal]

Having lived in the Bay area,and listening to his show,why am I not surprised?He is a real slime ball!!

[Redleg Duke]

That arrogant ass deserves to be locked away for the next century!

[djsherin]

If they use this to somehow bash the Church, or more specifically Christianity, I hope we fight back witht the fact he was a liberal.

[rockabyebaby]

INFIDEL ping...........

[Lurker]

Scumbag had the gall to run charities for kids during the holidays.

That's called 'target acquisition'.

L

[jazusamo]

Pics of three year olds. That scumbag deserves the nine years and more.

[ken21]

couldn’t happen to a better or rather worse guy.

he’s a jerk.

i used to surf by his dribble on kgo.

ick.

[Exton1]

Notice how they have to bash the Catholic Church, "a former Roman Catholic priest." How is that relivent to the story? He was not a Catholic priest when they busted him. How come they don't mention Liberal Talk Show host?

[Lurker]

How come they don't mention Liberal Talk Show host?

They did in the very first sentence.

L

[purpleraine]

Nobody need to bash the church anymore, except for the presence of Mahoney in LA. They did that to themselves. It’s factual and they mentioned the talk show host. Stand down.

[I still care]

Amazing that they mention “liberal talk show host”.

My experience is, they say “radio talk show host” and let everyone assume he’s a conservative.

[Cold Heat]

Good riddance to one really raunchy leftist scum-ball.

[Righter-than-Rush]

Oh I think Bernie will make some new friends in prison...

[Righter-than-Rush]

Where does his face end and his neck begin?