The Latest Scott Ritter Sex Sting Press Coverage - Story is Spreading, slowly...

Various | January 20, 2003

[Timesink]

Shermy found the following juicy article (with full accompanying thread):

Albany/Schenectady, NY
Top stories from:

			Police can't confirm Ritter's arrest Controversy surrounds former weapons inspector
			Jan. 20 -- Police released this mugshot following the arrest of William Ritter in June 2001. Lindsay Cohen reports.

ALBANY, NY, Jan. 20 - Scott Ritter of Delmar is well known internationally as an outspoken, former U.N. weapons inspector. Now more information is coming to light about Ritter's past and a disturbing arrest.

More stories from NewsChannel 13

By Lindsay Cohen

COLONIE POLICE CANNOT comment on whether or not they actually arrested Ritter on charges he solicited an underage girl over the Internet.  They say this is because if an arrest was made, it was sealed during court proceedings.      "Well generally speaking, if during the course of a court proceeding the defense asks for a sealing order based on a plea to a very lesser charge, a court can issue that under the CPL 160-50, which basically seals the entire record from the point of its start to the point of its finish," Deputy Police Chief Steve Heider explained.      The Daily Gazette first reported over the weekend that Ritter -- whose full name is William Scott Ritter -- was arrested in June 2001.      The New York Daily News further reported that Ritter's arrest was part of an Internet sting.  The report said he was arrested for having sexual discussions over the Internet with a person he thought was an underage girl. This individual turned out to be an undercover police officer.      Both reports say that Ritter later struck a deal with Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser that allowed the case to be dismissed and the records sealed.  The reports also say Preiser was fired on Friday for failing to inform Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne of the case.      However, NewsChannel 13 reported in June 2001 about an arrest of a 39-year-old William Ritter of Delmar on charges he tried to lure a 16-year-old girl he met on the Internet to a Burger King in Menands.  According to police, the intent of that meeting was so that she could watch him perform sexual acts on himself.      At that time police said William Ritter was arrested before doing anything, but was facing multiple misdemeanor charges for trying to solicit an underage girl for sexual reasons.      Ritter's attorney, Norah Murphy, confirmed that he was arrested in the town of Colonie in June 2001.      Ritter has not returned calls for comment.  His wife told NewsChannel 13 on Sunday that she had no comment on these charges.

By the way, that "play video" button above actually works! (Once you get past the stupid ad.)

[rolling_stone]

Try solicitation of a minor, that might be it NY penal code:

Section 100.08 Criminal solicitation in the third degree

A person is guilty of criminal solicitation in the third degree when, being over eighteen years of age, with intent that another person under sixteen years of age engage in conduct that would constitute a felony, he solicits, requests, commands, importunes or otherwise attempts to cause such other person to engage in such conduct.

Criminal solicitation in the third degree is a class E felony.


http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/nyart100.htm

sex with person under 14 is apparently a class D Felony

Section 130.30 Rape in the second degree

A person is guilty of rape in the second degree when, being eighteen years old or more, he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person to whom the actor is not married less than fourteen years old.

Rape in the second degree is a class D felony.


or even worse:
235.22
http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/ny3(a)(2).htm

Nothing but supposition until the actual facts come out., but all felonies...

[George W. Bush]

"I was shocked and angered to learn that the case had been disposed of by one of my assistant district attorneys without consulting me," Clyne told the paper. "Any arguably sensitive case should be brought to my attention."

Translation of those who don't speak New Yorkese: "My assistant D.A., a Democrat like myself, tried to reap the political profits of service to the Party machine in dealing with the Ritter device privately, cutting me out of the action. So I fired her to make sure my underlings don't undermine my ongoing efforts to accumulate political capital to further my ambitions for higher office on a Party ticket."

[donozark]

Thanks for posting statutes. "All felonies" as you say. However, I would think since (post 38) he was planning on "pleasuring himself" as opposed to an "offensive touching" which most states require (for felony conviction), this action of Ritter's would be a misdemeanor, even if he carried it out(poor choice of words).

Of course it is all conjecture until facts are known-if we can ever find them out.

Boy, I sure feel better knowing the nation's self-appointed, number one authority on Iraq's WMD was a carrot-cuffer!

[Aaron0617]

PMSNBC just reported it on its half hour break.

Mein Fuerer I can Valk!! It has legs and is running.

I hope it continues to spread. In any event I think his commenting career is over.

[rolling_stone]

Yes when i posted that I was not aware of the more recent specifics..does look like a misdemeanor, but it sure has ruined old Scotty boy! I always thought he was a wacko and guess he really is...

[Timesink]

It's being talked about on Usenet!!

"No Comment" by Ritter's Attorney (10 posts

Traitor & Saddam Apologist Scott Ritter Was Arrested In Pedophile Sting? (8 posts>

Ritter BUSTED in Sex Sting. Covered Up. (7 posts)

Scott Ritter. Child Rapist... (24 posts)

Saddam Apologist Scott Ritter Was Arrested Before For Being A Sex Pervert!! LOL! (6 posts)

Scott Ritter's Pedophilia Arrest (9 posts)

Plus many more! Just keep an eye open on Google Groups for the latest.

[mrustow]

While I despise Ritter, the scheme that lead to his arrest stinks of entrapment, and the "crime" has a dubious legal foundation.

[mrustow]

P.S. Should the goverment be in the business of luring people into committing crimes, so it can then arrest them?

[woofie]

Why is this not on Drudge?

[dead]

I read on other threads (so I don't know how reliable this info is) that he was trying to get the phoney 14-year-old to meet him and watch him pleasure himself.

That's quite illegal in the real world and on the internet.

[Timesink]

Why is this not on Drudge?

Send him an email or Instant Message him (mdrudge on AIM).

[woofie]

I sent it yesterday and he talked about it on his radio show last night with Ann Coulter

[Ann Archy]

Ahhh...Scotty's a McInsane supporter!!! That explains just about everything!!

[BullDog108]

For sex perverts and pedophiles: YES!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

NOVAK ON CROSSFORE IS A BIG DEFENDER OF THIS MORON!

[cyncooper]

The daily Chris Matthews Hardball email just came in. It does include a link to the original Daily News story about Ritter. Doesn't necessarily mean Matthews will discuss it on-air, but now we know he knows about it.

Just highlighting that Matthews knows about this.

MSNBC has been referring to this story per other freepers. Donahue just had Ritter on last week, so I'm curious if Donahue will mention it. I do not think he will. I hope Matthews does.