Posted on 01/21/2003 6:57:20 AM PST by 1Old Pro
http://www.timesunion.com/aspstories/storyprint.asp?storyID=95483
Arrest wasn't first time police had eye on Ritter
Former U.N. arms inspector reportedly was under inquiry when cops charged him in 2001
By MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writer
First published: Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Colonie -- The Internet sex case that led to the arrest of a former U.N. weapons inspector was not his first involvement with police on that type of crime, a person familiar with the case said Monday.
Scott Ritter was under investigation for trying to set up a meeting with a girl through the Internet when town police charged him in June 2001 with using an online chat room to set up a similar rendezvous at a Menands restaurant, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Police began investigating the 41-year-old Ritter, who lives in Delmar, in April 2001 after he tried to meet someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, the source said. Ritter drove to a Colonie business, where he instead was met by police officers, the source said.
Ritter, an outspoken critic of President Bush's plans for war against Iraq, was released without being charged while police investigated.
Two months later, the source said, Ritter was caught in the same type of Internet sex-sting operation after he tried to lure a 16-year-old girl to a Burger King in Menands. The supposed teenager actually was an undercover investigator posing online as a minor as part of the town Police Department's investigation of Internet sex crime, the source said.
Police charged Ritter with attempted endangerment of a child, a Class B misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in the county jail.
Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser to have the case adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, which means that charges would be dropped if Ritter stayed out of trouble for a period of time. A Colonie town justice sealed the case after the agreement between the prosecutor and defendant was reached.
Ritter was out of the country on Monday, according to his attorney, Norah Murphy, and his wife.
Ritter declined to be interviewed when asked Monday by e-mail whether he wanted to give his side of the story.
"Thanks for your e-mail," he wrote. "I have no comment on the issue you mentioned."
District Attorney Paul Clyne fired Preiser because she did not inform him about a "sensitive" case in Town Court, but Clyne would not acknowledge that the case involved Ritter.
Clyne's office was heavily criticized three months before Ritter's arrest after another assistant district attorney agreed to drop crack cocaine charges against a renowned Loudonville surgeon, Dr. Darroch Moores. In that case, the assistant district attorney also failed to inform the district attorney.
Moores took a leave of absence from St. Peter's Hospital and was allowed to keep his medical license and continue practicing as part of a probation agreement with the state Board for Professional Medical Conduct.
Defense attorney Michael Koenig said adjournment in contemplation of dismissal was not an unusual outcome for someone charged with a Class B misdemeanor, as Ritter was.
Ritter, a former Marine, led a weapons inspection team in Iraq in the 1990s after the Gulf War. He has gained international attention in recent months as a critic of a new U.S. war with Iraq. He has been interviewed frequently on radio and television shows, consistently downplaying the threat posed by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Ritter's days as a leading voice of the opposition to war could be over if his arrest receives national media attention, said Robert Thompson, professor of media and popular culture at Syracuse University. He said the nature of Ritter's arrest would overwhelm any point he might try to make on a talk show.
"When you're a talking head, your whole reason for being has got to be the image of anything you represent," Thompson said. "If the story starts getting to be a big issue, there will be talking heads making their careers on the end of this talking head."
Oh, my!
OR, remember he said he didn't take money from Iraq? Perhaps they are paying him with little girls when he visits.
Followed by Ritter's new illustrated book on masturbation, the DVD, and lucrative speaking engagements, he's set for life!
BUT, this radically left wing peacenik affiliate "forgot" they had this incredible tape and STILL will not release it!
Send the station an e-mail and ask them to stop protecting sexual predator Ritter....RELAEASE THE TAPE!
WNYT NewsChannel 13 - Albany, NY
To write to the General Manager: sbaboulis@wnyt.com
To write to the News Director: pconti@wnyt.com
NEWS ANCHOR: Ed Dague: edague@wnyt.com
IMO, If he was involved in something like this, you can bet he was involved in other stuff as well. They probably got more on him than something this minor. Somethng I have always suspected might be true about a substantial number of our elected officials.
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