and a third obscenity raid in two days...

[basschick]

keep in mind that the article makes clear that the obscenity charges have nothing to do with the pics of dead iraqis but are about porn.

"Polk Country Sheriff Raids Porn/War Website Over Obscenity
by Connor Young

POLK COUNTY, FL - The Polk Country Sheriff’s Office raided the home of Chris Wilson, 27, of Edgewood Drive in Lakeland, Florida, and charged him with 301 counts of obscenity.

Wilson’s amateur porn website nowthatsfuckedup.com, which accepts and posts user-submitted pictures, made national news recently over its policy of granting free access to any American military personnel stationed in Iraq provided that they submit proof that they are serving overseas. Many of the soldiers submitted pictures of dead Iraqis, which were subsequently posted on the website, which in turn caused an investigation by the United States Army.

Wilson is charged with one count of wholesale distribution of obscene material and 300 misdemeanor counts related to 20 online films and 80 photographs obtained from his website. The obscenity charges all relate to pornographic images, however, and do not relate to the images of the dead Iraqis. YNOT has not yet been able to determine the exact nature of the images, or why the Polk Country Sheriff’s Office believes that they are obscene.

In terms of the announced obscenity charges against Wilson, the Polk Country authorities are triple-dipping. For each video and photograph in question, Wilson is being charged three times – once with distribution of obscene material, once with offering to distribute obscene material, and once with possession of obscene material with intent to distribute.

“The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and we will share any pertinent information with the US Army Criminal Investigations Division,” said Polk Country Sheriff Grady Judd in a press release. “In my 33 years of law enforcement experience, this is one of the most horrific examples of filthy, obscene materials we have ever seized.”

The press release also indicated that the Sheriff’s office was searching Wilson’s residence for a customer list, leading to speculation that the raid could be intended to provide the US Army with information as to which soldiers had sent pictures to Wilson in exchange for membership.

First Amendment attorney Larry Walters of the law firm Weston, Garrou, DeWitt and Walters is representing Wilson.

Connor Young is Editor-in-Chief of YNOT."

http://www.ynot.com/modules.php?op=m...ticle&sid=9840

[Lee]

Wilson’s amateur porn website nowthatsfuckedup.com, which accepts and posts user-submitted pictures

I think that may be what the problem is with this raid.

Notice how all 3 raids have had no distinct 'mainstream' porn connections to them.

1) Max Hardcore - Extreme shit that turns even my stomach.
2) CP / *********** / Sado-masachistic content.
3) Uncontrolled content.

Its pretty obivous these raids are going to continue along the same lines so far as the 'content' goes, if you are using content that you cant immediately prove is:

1) Legal
2) Licensed

Id say now would be a good time to start pulling as much of that shit as you can.

I also noticed, that the sites in question dont appear to have any kind of 2257 notices on them either.

Maybe we'll see the FSC start another member drive because of this, its going to cost a lot to 'protect the industry' from this type of thing

Regards,

Lee

[Lee]

we will share any pertinent information with the US Army Criminal Investigations Division,” said Polk Country Sheriff Grady Judd in a press release.

This could also be a tool by the US government to find out which of their troops on active duty were giving away pics of dead Iraqis.

Regards,

Lee

[Happysucks]

“In my 33 years of law enforcement experience, this is one of the most horrific examples of filthy, obscene materials we have ever seized.”

Sad because I thought this was:

The Ledger (Lakeland, FL) , August 31 -- Bartow, FL
A Polk County jury deliberated about an hour Thursday morning before convicting 22-year-old Jon Paul Burnett on 138 counts of child pornography. Authorities alleged that they found 135 images of child pornography in Burnett's computer after executing a search warrant on his home in March 2000. The jury also found Burnett guilty on two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a child stemming from a videotape he made with boys ages 9 and 12.

source=http://www.protectkids.com/dangers/newsstories.htm

[Matt 26z]

Can't say I'm surprised, but I don't think this has anything to do with the obscenity crackdown as much as it does protecting the image of the country around the world.

My feeling is that the Pentagon pulled some strings and got the local authorities to nail this site so it wouldn't cause as much media attention as an FBI raid would have.

This site was an international incident just waiting to happen. The next time our troops were filmed as POW's or dead and we cried about it, the world would have just brought up this site and told us to shut up.

That is what brought this guy down. It's what made the US look bad.

This guy really is a dumbass. He should have known posting such photos could lead to bad things, even if they couldn't get him on the Iraq photos themselves. Now he is going to lose everything.

[Squirt]

For each video and photograph in question, Wilson is being charged three times – once with distribution of obscene material, once with offering to distribute obscene material, and once with possession of obscene material with intent to distribute.

Now THAT'S fucked up!

I Couldn't resist

Too many unknowns here to have an informed opinion. the 20 videos and 80 photographs are not related to dead Iraqis.. that doesn't tell us what was so bad... and they didn't mention CP so what exactly was obscene? It is Florida so it could be anything.

You have to admit that trading pics of dead people for porn is really really fucked up, but not illegal. Posting those pics online the way he has, under these particular circumstances, is pretty messed up, but I don't think that's illegal either. I'm glad to see he has an attorney and I'm interested to find out more as the story unfolds.

[Squirt]

This is a photo of Chris Wilson BTW, the guy we're all talking about here.

[desslock]

Is this case part of a federal investigation? If this is the Sheriff, then isn't that someone local going off the enforce the law, and not the Dept of Justice?

Just wondering.

Steve

[Squirt]

Is this case part of a federal investigation? If this is the Sheriff, then isn't that someone local going off the enforce the law, and not the Dept of Justice?

Just wondering.

Steve

Does it really matter if it's police invading your home in the name of obscenity or the DOJ?

A raid is a raid and charges are charges and at the end of the day it's a person in position of authority delving into your life to hold you before the world and have judgement put upon you.

What's your opinion?

[Matt D]

Is this case part of a federal investigation? If this is the Sheriff, then isn't that someone local going off the enforce the law, and not the Dept of Justice?

Just wondering.

Steve

This raid was carried out by local officials. Polk County is ultra-conservative.

Can't say I feel sorry for this guy though, because most of the images on his site are non-consensual. The hidden camera section is especially heinous. It's important to keep that in mind before anyone rushes to his defense.

In most cases, we don't know how old the models are, and the images are being posted without their permission. In some cases, the images are of people who don't even know they were photographed.

[XXXWriterDude]

If this guy is posting pics of people without their permission, then that's a pretty heinous crime, so it would be a good thing if he was taken down. for it. Posting pics of dead Iraqis may not be illegal, but it is certainly what I find to be morally disturbing. Posting pics of dead people at all is quite suspect, as far as I'm concerned, and to me, that definitely constitutes "obscenity." However, if he's being taken down on the porn content alone, it seems odd that the sheriff's office is making such a stink about how the content is some of most obscene they've ever seen. Really??? What's so obscene about hidden cameras? Completely violates the privacy rights of the subjects, but obscene? I suppose obscenity is extremely subjective. A money shot to many is very obscene. To me, it's fucking heaven.

[Matt D]

However, if he's being taken down on the porn content alone, it seems odd that the sheriff's office is making such a stink about how the content is some of most obscene they've ever seen. Really???

He also has a section devoted to extreme fetishes and gore. I interpret that to mean he has pictures of sexualized violence on his site or pictures that look like extreme sex abuse.

Seeing as how the Iraq photos include a beaver shot of a woman who lost a leg to a land mine titled "nice puss/bad foot", I'm probably not too far off the mark.

[XXXWriterDude]

He also has a section devoted to extreme fetishes and gore. I interpret that to mean he has pictures of sexualized violence on his site or pictures that look like extreme sex abuse.

Seeing as how the Iraq photos include a beaver shot of a woman who lost a leg to a land mine titled "nice puss/bad foot", I'm probably not too far off the mark.

Ahhhh, well, that would make sense.

[chadknowslaw]

The problem with defining what is obscene is that someone has to define it. I know that sounds like crazy lawyer talk, and it is. In order to define obscene, somebody has to draw a line and say "this side of the line is not obscene, everything across the line IS obscene". It wouldn't be a big deal except someone has the brilliant idea that people who have a picture that someone else thinks is obscene [onthe wrong side of the line they drew] should go to jail for having a picture that meets with disapproval from somebody.

I think the only fair way to draw the line is to not draw it at all. We sure as hell don't want Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family drawing the line, because then the money shot would be obscene. And Dr. Dobson, may he rest in hell, does not want ME to draw the line because I would draw it just beyond fisting and candlewax on the nipples. We can certainly not please everybody no matter where the line is drawn, and I think the US Constitution gives us the right to view whatever we want in the privacy of our own home as long as it is images of consenting adults. No child porn, no forced activity.

Pictures of dead bodies are not obscene to me, but then I've watched autopsies performed. Pictures of dead bodies that show what is going on in Iraq is not as nice as BushCo wants us to believe are obscene to our commander in chief.

In MY OPINION, the fair and free way is to allow anything between consenting adults. Children and animals cannot give consent. Otherwise, what you want to view in your own home is up to you. If you want to see 25 men simulate a gang rape on another guy until his ass bleeds [and all the participants are truly willing] then I don't believe someone else should have the right to put you in jail for looking at that because they think it is too obscene for you to view.

[Matt D]

All I know is, Chris Wilson makes me sick. The celebratory tone of the war carnage section is reprehensible. Some of those people are clearly civilians, but he doesn't seem to care. I saw a post from him on another webmaster board were he seemed to think all Iraqis are members of Al Queda.

Is making me sick a crime. No. But non-consensual porn is, and many of the images that appear on the site were posted without consent. This is the sort of thing 2257 was supposed to prevent. Too bad Ashy and Gonzo had to go and ruin it.

In fact, some of the women don't even realize they were photographed because the pictures were taken with hidden spy cams. He's an ex-cop and he's encouraging people to submit real (not fake) hidden camera photos! Every woman who was posted to the site without permission should sue the bastard.

It's also sickening to think this smug asshole is going to be the face of porn for the next few weeks. Have you seen his mug shot? Something about his self-satisfied smirk makes me want to smack him.

BTW, the site didn't even have a 2257 statement until after he got busted. How stupid is that?