Police Can't Confirm Ritter's Arrest (New Detail and Mug Photo)

WNYT-TV, Albany, NY ^ | January 20, 2003 | WNYT Staff

[Shermy]

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.

Police released this mugshot following
the arrest of William Ritter in June 2001.
Lindsay Cohen reports.

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 due to court proceedings.

<....Snip...>

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.<...snip...>

[BOBTHENAILER]

I am still thinking about that child prison in Iraq. I cannot get that out of my mind. Why haven't we heard any more about it?

So am I. Something awfully fishy about that one.

[Catspaw]

I'm not familiar with New York law. This is what I pulled out of Wisconsin criminal law, along with the penalties:

948.055       
948.055 Causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity. 
948.055(1)       
(1) Whoever intentionally causes a child who has not attained 18 years of age to view or listen to sexually explicit conduct may be penalized as provided in sub. (2) if the viewing or listening is for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying the actor or humiliating or degrading the child.
 
948.055(2)       
(2) Whoever violates sub. (1) is guilty of:
 
948.055(2)(a)       
(a)  A Class F felony if the child has not attained the age of 13 years.
 
948.055 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
948.055 - ANNOT.       

 (a)  A Class C felony if the child has not attained the age of 13 years.
 
948.055(2)(b)       
(b)  A Class H felony if the child has attained the age of 13 years but has not attained the age of 18 years.
 
948.055 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
948.055 - ANNOT.       
       (b)  A Class D felony if the child has attained the age of 13 years but has not attained the age of 18 years.
 
948.055 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1987 a. 334; 1989 a. 359; 1993 a. 218 ss. 6, 7; Stats. 1993 s. 948.055; 1995 a. 67; 2001 a. 109.

948.07       
948.07 Child enticement.  Whoever, with intent to commit any of the following acts, causes or attempts to cause any child who has not attained the age of 18 years to go into any vehicle, building, room or secluded place is guilty of a Class D felony:
 
948.07 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  948.07 (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
948.07 - ANNOT.       
       948.07 Child enticement.  Whoever, with intent to commit any of the following acts, causes or attempts to cause any child who has not attained the age of 18 years to go into any vehicle, building, room or secluded place is guilty of a Class BC felony:
 
948.07(1)       
(1) Having sexual contact or sexual intercourse with the child in violation of s. 948.02 or 948.095.
 
948.07(2)       
(2) Causing the child to engage in prostitution.
 
948.07(3)       
(3) Exposing a sex organ to the child or causing the child to expose a sex organ in violation of s. 948.10.
 
948.07(4)       
(4) Recording the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
 
948.07(5)       
(5) Causing bodily or mental harm to the child.
 
948.07(6)       
(6) Giving or selling to the child a controlled substance or controlled substance analog in violation of ch. 961.
 
948.07 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1987 a. 332; 1995 a. 67, 69, 448, 456; 2001 a. 16, 109.
948.075       
948.075 Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. 
948.075(1)       
(1) Whoever uses a computerized communication system to communicate with an individual who the actor believes or has reason to believe has not attained the age of 16 years with intent [to] have sexual contact or sexual intercourse with the individual in violation of s. 948.02 (1) or (2) is guilty of a Class D felony.
 
948.075 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  Sub. (1) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109.  Prior to 2-1-03 it reads as shown below.  The bracketed language indicates a necessary word that was omitted by Act 109. Corrective legislation is pending.
 
948.075 - ANNOT.       
       (1)  Whoever uses a computerized communication system to communicate with an individual who the actor believes or has reason to believe has not attained the age of 16 years with intent [to] have sexual contact or sexual intercourse with the individual in violation of s. 948.02 (1) or (2) is guilty of a Class BC felony.
 
948.075(2)       
(2) This section does not apply if, at the time of the communication, the actor reasonably believed that the age of the person to whom the communication was sent was no more than 24 months less than the age of the actor.
 
948.075(3)       
(3) Proof that the actor did an act, other than use a computerized communication system to communicate with the individual, to effect the actor's intent under sub. (1) shall be necessary to prove that intent.
 
948.075 - ANNOT.       
       History:   2001 a. 109.
 
940.225       
940.225 Sexual assault. 
940.225(1)       
(1) First degree sexual assault.  Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class B felony:
 
940.225(1)(a)       
(a)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person and causes pregnancy or great bodily harm to that person.
 
940.225(1)(b)       
(b)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of use of a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim reasonably to believe it to be a dangerous weapon.
 
940.225(1)(c)       
(c)  Is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence.
 
940.225(2)       
(2) Second degree sexual assault.  Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony:
 
940.225 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  Sub. (2) (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
940.225 - ANNOT.       
       (2) Second degree sexual assault.  Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class BC felony:
 
940.225(2)(a)       
(a)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence.
 
940.225(2)(b)       
(b)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person and causes injury, illness, disease or impairment of a sexual or reproductive organ, or mental anguish requiring psychiatric care for the victim.
 
940.225(2)(c)       
(c)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who suffers from a mental illness or deficiency which renders that person temporarily or permanently incapable of appraising the person's conduct, and the defendant knows of such condition.
 
940.225(2)(cm)       
(cm)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who is under the influence of an intoxicant to a degree which renders that person incapable of appraising the person's conduct, and the defendant knows of such condition.
 
940.225(2)(d)       
(d)  Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who the defendant knows is unconscious.
 
940.225(2)(f)       
(f)  Is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without the consent of that person.
 
940.225(2)(g)       
(g)  Is an employee of a facility or program under s. 940.295 (2) (b), (c), (h) or (k) and has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who is a patient or resident of the facility or program.
 
940.225(3)       
(3) Third degree sexual assault.  Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class  G felony.  Whoever has sexual contact in the manner described in sub. (5) (b) 2. with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class  G felony.
 
940.225 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  Sub. (3) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
940.225 - ANNOT.       
       (3) Third degree sexual assault.  Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class D felony.  Whoever has sexual contact in the manner described in sub. (5) (b) 2. with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class D felony.
 
940.225(3m)       
(3m) Fourth degree sexual assault.  Except as provided in sub. (3), whoever has sexual contact with a person without the consent of that person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
 

 

939.50       
939.50 Classification of felonies. 
939.50(1)       
(1) Felonies in the statutes are classified as follows:
 
939.50(1)(a)       
(a)  Class A felony.
 
939.50(1)(b)       
(b)  Class B felony.
 
939.50(1)(c)       
(c)  Class C felony.
 
939.50(1)(d)       
(d)  Class D felony.
 
939.50(1)(e)       
(e)  Class E felony.
 
939.50(1)(f)       
(f)  Class F felony.
 
939.50(1)(g)       
(g)  Class G felony.
 
939.50(1)(h)       
(h)  Class H felony.
 
939.50(1)(i)       
(i)  Class I felony.
 
939.50(2)       
(2) A felony is a Class A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, or I felony when it is so specified in the statutes.
 
939.50(3)       
(3) Penalties for felonies are as follows:
 
939.50(3)(a)       
(a)  For a Class A felony, life imprisonment.
 
939.50(3)(b)       
(b)  For a Class B felony, imprisonment not to exceed 60 years.
 
939.50(3)(c)       
(c)  For a Class C felony, a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(d)       
(d)  For a Class D felony, a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(e)       
(e)  For a Class E felony, a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(f)       
(f)  For a Class F felony, a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and 6 months, or both.
 
939.50(3)(g)       
(g)  For a Class G felony, a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(h)       
(h)  For a Class H felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 6 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(i)       
(i)  For a Class I felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and 6 months, or both.
 
939.50 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  This section is shown as affected eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
939.50 - ANNOT.       
       939.50 Classification of felonies.  (1) Except as provided in ss. 946.43 (2m) (a), 946.83 and 946.85, felonies in chs. 939 to 951 are classified as follows:

(a)  Class A felony.

(b)  Class B felony.

(bc)  Class BC felony.

(c)  Class C felony.

(d)  Class D felony.

(e)  Class E felony.

(2) A felony is a Class A, B, BC, C, D or E felony when it is so specified in chs. 939 to 951.

(3) Penalties for felonies are as follows:

(a)  For a Class A felony, life imprisonment.

(b)  For a Class B felony, imprisonment not to exceed 60 years.

(bc)  For a Class BC felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 years, or both.

(c)  For a Class C felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both.

(d)  For a Class D felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both.

(e)  For a Class E felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 5 years, or both.
 
939.50 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1977 c. 173; 1981 c. 280; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; 1993 a. 194; 1995 a. 69; 1997 a. 283; 1999 a. 188; 2001 a. 109.
 
939.51       
939.51 Classification of misdemeanors. 
939.51(1)       
(1) Misdemeanors in chs. 939 to 951 are classified as follows:
 
939.51(1)(a)       
(a)  Class A misdemeanor.
 
939.51(1)(b)       
(b)  Class B misdemeanor.
 
939.51(1)(c)       
(c)  Class C misdemeanor.

     
939.50       
939.50 Classification of felonies. 
939.50(1)       
(1) Felonies in the statutes are classified as follows:
 
939.50(1)(a)       
(a)  Class A felony.
 
939.50(1)(b)       
(b)  Class B felony.
 
939.50(1)(c)       
(c)  Class C felony.
 
939.50(1)(d)       
(d)  Class D felony.
 
939.50(1)(e)       
(e)  Class E felony.
 
939.50(1)(f)       
(f)  Class F felony.
 
939.50(1)(g)       
(g)  Class G felony.
 
939.50(1)(h)       
(h)  Class H felony.
 
939.50(1)(i)       
(i)  Class I felony.
 
939.50(2)       
(2) A felony is a Class A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, or I felony when it is so specified in the statutes.
 
939.50(3)       
(3) Penalties for felonies are as follows:
 
939.50(3)(a)       
(a)  For a Class A felony, life imprisonment.
 
939.50(3)(b)       
(b)  For a Class B felony, imprisonment not to exceed 60 years.
 
939.50(3)(c)       
(c)  For a Class C felony, a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(d)       
(d)  For a Class D felony, a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(e)       
(e)  For a Class E felony, a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(f)       
(f)  For a Class F felony, a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and 6 months, or both.
 
939.50(3)(g)       
(g)  For a Class G felony, a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(h)       
(h)  For a Class H felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 6 years, or both.
 
939.50(3)(i)       
(i)  For a Class I felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and 6 months, or both.
 
939.50 - ANNOT.       
       NOTE:  This section is shown as affected eff. 2-1-03 by 2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
 
939.50 - ANNOT.       
       939.50 Classification of felonies.  (1) Except as provided in ss. 946.43 (2m) (a), 946.83 and 946.85, felonies in chs. 939 to 951 are classified as follows:

(a)  Class A felony.

(b)  Class B felony.

(bc)  Class BC felony.

(c)  Class C felony.

(d)  Class D felony.

(e)  Class E felony.

(2) A felony is a Class A, B, BC, C, D or E felony when it is so specified in chs. 939 to 951.

(3) Penalties for felonies are as follows:

(a)  For a Class A felony, life imprisonment.

(b)  For a Class B felony, imprisonment not to exceed 60 years.

(bc)  For a Class BC felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 years, or both.

(c)  For a Class C felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both.

(d)  For a Class D felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both.

(e)  For a Class E felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 5 years, or both.
 
939.50 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1977 c. 173; 1981 c. 280; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; 1993 a. 194; 1995 a. 69; 1997 a. 283; 1999 a. 188; 2001 a. 109.
 

939.51(2)       
(2) A misdemeanor is a Class A, B or C misdemeanor when it is so specified in chs. 939 to 951.
 
939.51(3)       
(3) Penalties for misdemeanors are as follows:
 
939.51(3)(a)       
(a)  For a Class A misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both.
 
939.51(3)(b)       
(b)  For a Class B misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.
 
939.51(3)(c)       
(c)  For a Class C misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both.
 
939.51 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1977 c. 173; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; 1997 a. 35.
 
939.52       
939.52 Classification of forfeitures. 
939.52(1)       
(1) Except as provided in ss. 946.86 and 946.87, forfeitures in chs. 939 to 951 are classified as follows:
 
939.52(1)(a)       
(a)  Class A forfeiture.
 
939.52(1)(b)       
(b)  Class B forfeiture.
 
939.52(1)(c)       
(c)  Class C forfeiture.
 
939.52(1)(d)       
(d)  Class D forfeiture.
 
939.52(1)(e)       
(e)  Class E forfeiture.
 
939.52(2)       
(2) A forfeiture is a Class A, B, C, D or E forfeiture when it is so specified in chs. 939 to 951.
 
939.52(3)       
(3) Penalties for forfeitures are as follows:
 
939.52(3)(a)       
(a)  For a Class A forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $10,000.
 
939.52(3)(b)       
(b)  For a Class B forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $1,000.
 
939.52(3)(c)       
(c)  For a Class C forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $500.
 
939.52(3)(d)       
(d)  For a Class D forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $200.
 
939.52(3)(e)       
(e)  For a Class E forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $25.
 
939.52 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1977 c. 173; 1981 c. 280; 1987 a. 171; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; 1989 a. 121.
 
939.60       
939.60 Felony and misdemeanor defined.  A crime punishable by imprisonment in the Wisconsin state prisons is a felony.  Every other crime is a misdemeanor.
 
939.60 - ANNOT.       
       History:   1977 c. 418 s. 924 (18) (e).
 
939.60 - ANNOT.       
       A statutory offense punishable by imprisonment of one year or less in an unspecified place of confinement may result in confinement in a state prison and, therefore, is a felony, regardless of the classification of the offense at the time of the statute's enactment.  State ex rel. McDonald v. Douglas County Circuit Ct. 100 Wis. 2d 569, 302 N.W.2d 462 (1981).
 

[Lancey Howard]

It may be that this county does use DPAs for sex crime cases, but the DA's head--along with the heads of the judges in my county--would blow up this was done in any sex crimes case here.

Yes, nobody, but NOBODY wants to be known as the judge or prosecutor who let a pedophile sex offender back out on the street with a wrist slap. Somebody "got to" somebody in Ritter's case. This smells to high heaven.

[Inspectorette]

Good point about Rove and McCain - just goes to show how the DU'ers are in denial.

That bothers me a lot about "child prisons" too. If Ritter was talking about this back in '98, why wasn't it publicized. Can you imagine the horror of this? Could it be that Clinton covered it up because he was too much of a coward to do anything about it?

[Lancey Howard]

I am still thinking about that child prison in Iraq. I cannot get that out of my mind. Why haven't we heard any more about it?

A prison for the children of political dissidents might be considered by Saddam a nifty place to hide weapons of mass destruction.

[Shermy]

reading Catspaw here, and reviewing the video again, the "secrecy" might not be so unusual.

[finnman69]

PL § 120.45 Stalking in the Fourth Degree
Class B Misdemeanor

http://www.correctionhistory.org/northcountry/html/knowlaw/stalkingstatute3.htm

A person is guilty of stalking in the fourth degree when he or she intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person, and knows or reasonably should know that such conduct:

(1) is likely to cause reasonable fear of material harm to the physical health, safety or property of such person, a family member, or an acquaintance; or

(2) causes material harm to the mental or emotional health of the victim by "following, telephoning or initiating communication or contact with such person," a family member, or an acquaintance,
and the actor was previously informed to cease that conduct; or

(3) is likely to cause the victim to reasonably fear that his or her employment, business or career is threatened by "appearing, telephoning or initiating communication or contact" at the victim's place of employment or business, and the actor was previously informed to cease that conduct

[PISANO]

Hey.....Private Life.........MOVE ON!

[Catspaw]

You know, I was sitting in a courtroom waiting for our case to be called (I was with a defense attorney, but not for this case) and the judge called a possession of cocaine case. The DA (the Big Kahuna, not one of the ADA's) stood mute and allowed the defense attorney to argue for sentence. The judge maxed the guy out, his face turning various shades of red and purple & the veins sticking out in his neck, then invited the defense attorney & the District Attorney back in his allegedly soundproof office for a chat. JAAZUS! I truly thought I could see the door bulging out--the judge was screaming things like, "I HAVE TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN THIS COUNTY AND YOU'RE STANDING MUTE IN A COKE CASE? YOU ^$@#@((&#" That when on for at least 15 minutes. I never saw the DA stand mute in ANY case again.

[Catspaw]

Perhaps I wasn't as clear as I should've been. These types of agreements do exist, but it is highly unusual for them to be used in a sex crimes case.

[Miss Marple]

That is what is so odd to me. This is a high risk for all involved. What if Ritter subsequently does something and then this comes out? Obviously the DA recognized the peril, which is why he fired the ADA.

[Catspaw]

That may have been what the crime was plea bargained down to, but what would be the original crime(s)? Does the NY statutes have the equivalent of Wisconsin's sex crimes against children and/or using a computer to lure a child?

[helper]

Exactly my thoughts, there is a lot more to this if we can find out who is really behind the cover up, and why.

[Catspaw]

That is what is so odd to me. This is a high risk for all involved. What if Ritter subsequently does something and then this comes out? Obviously the DA recognized the peril, which is why he fired the ADA.

And why would the ADA risk her job for Scott Ritter?

[doug from upland]

I am sure the RAT underground does not want to be discussing this. What a tagteam -- Ritter and Pitt.

[Ann Archy]

Was he going to bring his own sink??

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Putting Ritter aside for a moment, what other important cases did the fired ADA keep from her boss?

[Ann Archy]

He actually looks NICER in his mug shot thanhe does when he's spewing his venom on TV against Bush. He is one MEAN dude.

[doug from upland]

Was he going to bring his own sink??

=============================

One of the best comments so far, AA.

[doug from upland]

We have a sexual predator alert flyer for Clinton. Is another now necessary?