Tomorrow Is The Bernie Ward Sentencing...

[Razorblade02]

I dread the day. He was such a inspiring talk show host for me and I respected him so much before all this nightmare happened. My thoughts are with him and his family. I wish things hadn't happened the way it did.

[still_one]

1. My thoughts are with his family, but not him. He is a scum for what he did

Not only to his family and kids, but his listeners also

[SoCalDem]

2. Things didn't "happen".. He MADE things "happen"

Apparently he was judged guilty, and he needs to accept his punishment like any other criminal..

Being a liberal, does not excuse his other "proclivities"..:puke:

[norepubsin08]

3. what did he allegedly do?

[orleans]

6. i forget--something bad--not "allegedly" because he was found guilty

let me know when you find out what it was

[Vanje]

17. Saw and sent nasty pictures with children in em.

Its sad.

I've listened to Bernie for years. He was a terrific radio host.

My nights are bereft.

[The Bakery Wagon]

21. the smoking gun has the complete 19 page police report

and the more you read the uglier it gets...

A Slave To "Research"

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0215081ward1.html

"...The documents note that in his 2004-05 instant message exchanges with the 33-year-old Figueiredo, Ward, using the alias "Vincentlio," made reference "that he might be sexually abusing minors" or allowing them to "engage in sexual acts in his presence." As first reported by San Francisco's ABC7, armed with the explicit IM exchanges and the image received by the woman, investigators obtained a search warrant for Ward's AOL account, which yielded other alleged photos of child pornography. Several of those images, an investigator noted, "depicted children engaged in or simulating sexual acts with adults or other children." The minors seen in the photos were between four and 17 years old, according to a police estimate..."

[Razorblade02]

22. That's the first I saw of the crimal charges in entirety..

I have to admit it sickens me to my soul to think someone i once admired as one of my heroes is that perverted. It makes one question theri entire judgement about everything.
Still, I say the punishment is overkill.
From what I have read, this was all fantasy and Ward never actually did anything with his kids. And the woman who turned him in isn't exactly innocent here..does make one wonder if he wasn't set up.

[underseasurveyor]

4. Wow had to google that one

Apparently I've been WAAAAY outta that loop. I listened to Bernie a some years back but never was a fan of his and I haven't listened to him for 2 or 3 years at least.

Sorry your bubble went bust Razor but he deserves at a minimum, a lengthy sentence.

[Razorblade02]

5. I still have a real problem with the punishment fitting the crime..

Transfering images over the internet isn't the exact same thing as actually touching a child yet they give 5 years sentences for each image? Isn't that over the top? I think so.

[underseasurveyor]

7. I'm probably not the best one to ask on that Razorblade02

It does seem excessive but geez.. kids:wtf:

Like I say I'm not the best one to say.. it's an emotional issue for me and my judgment may not be as clear or as fair as it should be.

[Razorblade02]

8. I amnot saying he doesn't deserve sentencing..

But I just read where a child rapist just got 5 years for actually raping a kid. I just think that the punishment of 5 years just for sending images is a bit too much. I also didn't agree with the California 3 strikes law where you go to prison if you have 3 felonies on your record. If it's just because you stole a pizza then too bad...

[underseasurveyor]

9. I know darlin' I got what ya meant

But I didn't know the sentencing laws on child porn were such that it was so much time per each offense. Again mandatory sentencing laws have taken the discretion away from judges and tied their hands. I don't like that myself.

And please forgive me for not noticing earlier that you're new here so on that note....

Welcome to DU Razorblade02:toast: First one's on me

[Razorblade02]

10. Actually I am not new..

I just have been kicked off several times and come back under new names. It doesn't take much here ya know..

[underseasurveyor]

12. HA HA love it

Then welcome back ;-)

[RandiFan1290]

23. Enjoy another short stay!

:dunce:

[Razorblade02]

25. If I rile the wrong person I'm sure I will be back under a new name

..after all..you can't keep a good man down and this is America.

[avaistheone1]

11. Exchanging sexual images of children should be a felony.

However, I agree with the poster, that those who molest and rape childrem should be given greater sentences than those who just exchange images.

[sharesunited]

13. Seize contraband and let that be the end of it. No depriving of liberty.

That's been my mantra and so far it continues to make optimum sense to me.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. Welcome to DU

I, too, was a fan of Ward. Called his show once and talked with him — made him laugh, which made me feel pretty good. I was pretty much in denial when the allegations broke, but as the evidence came out, I had to accept that, well, he apparently has a big problem.

I hope Judge Walker will consider Ward's work with Thanksgiving Charities and impose the minimum sentence and that Ward will get help wherever he's sent.

[UNCLE_Rico]

15. Totally agree Razorhead...

I love Bernie, listened to him for years, believe he is a great, but flawed, person.

The idea one could get 5 years (or more) for what he did strikes me as utterly ludicrous.

Considering that:
* He was not IN the images with any kids, nor is there evidence he has ever been 'with' a child in a sexual manner.
* He was not involved in production of the images, nor is there any evidence he ever has been.
* He was not involved in profiteering from the images, nor is there any evidence he ever has been.
* He was not accused of originally having PAID FOR the images, which should logically be considered a more grievous offense.
* He did not SEND them to a minor, rather to another adult, a 'dominatrix' that he was role-playing as a 'slave' with.
* There's no evidence whatsoever that he is any sort of a 'child sex predator', aside from being accused of hitting on and apparently trying to seduce a couple of 16-17 y.o. girls when he was like 24 or 27 (i forget which), over 20 years hence.
* He has done amazing work with raising money for charities, and he has been an awesome, intelligent progressive voice for many years on KGO in the Bay Area.

I think maybe 6 months in jail, TOPS, along with a year of mandatory counseling, maybe some restrictions on 'time alone' with youngsters for awhile ... seem fitting for a situation like this.

But 5+ YEARS? If something like this can get you 5+ years, then I think everyone who so much as photographs a child naked, for whatever reason, should get LIFE. And actually FONDLING a child, let alone molesting them, should warrant the Death Penalty.

Penalties this extreme for something like what Bernie pleaded guilty to are just totally ridiculous in my book.

[readmoreoften]

16. So was he, like, really transferring the pictures or was he set up?

I remember when they "kiddie-porned" Scott Ritter after they didn't like what he had to say about Iraq's lack of WMDs...

[Vanje]

18. At first he claimed to be doing research for a book on hipocracy...

...using porn images to "frame" family values types, was the story.

but transcripts from online chats with a dominatrix sort of blew that claim out of the water.

[ConsAreLiars]

19. No one is wholly evil or good.

Weigh the good done against the harm done. Who got hurt and who got helped? The holiest-of holies who confuse looking with doing might want to consider murder sentences for everyone who watched a Stallone or Bronson or Heston or whatever movie.

[Razorblade02]

26. I agree wholeheartily..

It doesn't change the fact that Bernie Ward did transfer child porn on the internet. My pastor once told me that the hardest subject he had to talk to people was pedophilia. He had to consul many of these people. Society he says is unforgiving to these people and they need guidance as much as anyone else. I can tell you that after posting on several sites on the internet in defense of Bernie Ward that most are so bildly unforgivable that you just can't carry a objective conversation with them.
I hope Bernie and his family are getting the help they need to get through this. I hope.

[Cid_B]

20. Those transcripts...

... are twisted. He can rot....

[Prefer]

24. I think the descriptions of the orgy in the back of the theater

are more disturbing than the allegations of smut.

That's where you start to go - Oh My bernie, to even imagine this stuff as pretend is a little iffy...