------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 00:01:16 -0600 From: TELECOM Moderator Subject: File 5--BBS Sysops who rape handicapped people So after a hiatus of several months of not reading CuD, I get back on the mailing list and find little gems like this one: > The UPI wire service reported that Medford, Massechusetts resident > Alden L. Baker Jr. was indicted Wednesday for distributing child > pornography from his computer bulletin board, "Boston's Eagle's Nest." ... > US Attorney Donald K. Stern said, "The use of computerized 'bulletin > board' systems which distribute pornographic images to members > throughout the country are particularly deserving of our vigorous > prosecution." Please note the selective editing by someone here ... AUSA Stern's comment was " ... which distribute pornographic images of children ^^^^^^^^^^^ throughout the country ... " Who left out the 'of children' part? Then this comment followed from Bob Chatelle: > From--kip@world.std.com (Bob B Chatelle) > Subject--Feds Bust Boston-area Gay BBS > Date--Thu, 16 Dec 1993 22:17:56 GMT > According to today's Boston Herald, Federal prosecutors have arrested > the sysop of a local gay BBS called the Boston Eagle's Nest and > charged him with distributing child pornography. The sysop is facing > ten years in prison and a $100,000 fine. > Busting gay boards is SOP for the Feds here in the Boston area. Since when is child pornography and/or child molestation automatically associated with being 'gay' or having a 'gay BBS' ? That's not to say one can't be gay and a pedophile at the same time; there are such people but the two don't automatically go together and I don't think the federal government is trying to say that they do. Either Mr. Baker did what he is accused of or he did not; a judge and/ or jury -- his option -- will make the decision. Judging however from his previous conviction for raping the handicapped person, it seems reasonable to assume that perhaps there is some truth to the latest allegations against him. > During the summer of 1992, they busted a very fine board called Doug's > Den, which I very much miss. Doug's Den was busted on the usual bogus > kiddie-porn charges. (I downloaded enough porn from Doug's Den to > know that the charges were false.) > I'm sure that the charges against the Eagle's Nest are just as phony > as the charges against Doug's Den. Why? What makes you so sure? Are you aware of the allegations of the police that when they searched Baker's home they found explicit examples of child pornography? Surely you know that possession of child porn is in and of itself a violation of the law. The Supreme Court has ruled that child pornography has no First Amendment protections. > The intent is to close down the boards and discourage other boards > from operating -- or at least from exercising their First Amendment > rights. Child pornography has no First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court has so stated. > I'm curious about how many gay boards all over the country Janet Reno > and her stormtroopers are shutting down. Any info will be greatly > appreciated. I'm curious about how so many gay people all over the USA were tricked into voting for the worthless and decietful Bill Clinton to begin with. Remember how when I put up messages before his election saying people should not vote for him I (and lots of other folks) were accused of being 'homophobic' ... god, I *loved* that word, it was such a gas ... too bad I have not heard it much lately ... but aside from the fact that Clinton is the worst disaster ever in the White House and by extension that entire hot team of his/hers is not much good either, I don't think he or Janet Reno is so stupid they assume 'gay' = 'pedophile'. You can leave that equation to Pat Robertson and the far right. Then 'anonymous by request' (isn't it great to see a person who has the courage to sign his name to his beliefs?) passes along a message by someone who posted in comp.org.eff.talk 'where a discussion is in progress' ... (there followed then a report from the Boston Globe). Of particular interest from that report: > Alden J. Baker Jr, 44, who is serving a 6- 10 year term in Gardner > State prison for raping his limousine driver, now faces a 187-count > indictment for sexual exploitation of minors. > [ 10 paragraphs of stuff about how BBS's are trucking porno on the > information highway, and advertising and selling memberships, > deleted] Admittedly probably a lot of nonsense. Probably some truth mixed with a lot of false stuff. > Medford police began to investigate Baker about three years ago, > when a 31-year-old, emotionally handicapped man walked into the police > station and charged that Baker had raped him. I imagine it took a lot of courage for this fellow to come forward and say what had happened. Well, I know the fact that a discussion is going on in comp.org.eff.talk is not indicative of what position EFF may or may not take or whether or not they will choose to provide counsel to the defendant, but I certainly hope they wash their hands of this case and do not get involved. I've a feeling though they will get right in the middle of it and try to make it into a free speech/First Amendment thing. That's the way they are; they are so much like the ACLU it is pathetic. Two peas in a pod, and all that. PAT =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ + END THIS FILE + +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+===+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=