Chris Wilson pleads guilty, banned from running adult websites

Mike AI · 01-13-2006

http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBMXPJWEIE.html

BARTOW - A Web site operator pleaded no contest today to five misdemeanor obscenity charges in a plea deal that would ban him from offering a sexually oriented adult Internet site for five years.

Chris Wilson, who became well known for offering both porn and gruesome war photos on his site, will be sentenced April 21. If Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance goes along with with the deal, Wilson will be sentenced to the time already served in Polk County jail and five years' probation.

The state is dropping its one felony obscenity charge and all but five of the 300 misdemeanor obscenity charges against him. Wilson's lawyer, Lawrence Walters of Orlando, said he was pleased with the resolution, which leaves his client without facing the prospect of more jail time or a felony conviction.

``I'm glad it's over. I want to move on,'' said Wilson, a 28- year-old former police officer.

Walters said his client has a couple of ``media oriented opportunities'' but wouldn't elaborate on his future plans.

Polk County has had a long crusade against obscenity and has shut down dozens of strip clubs, adult bookstores, lingerie modeling studios and similar businesses.

Wilson was first jailed in October on 301 obscenity-related counts. He posted bond a few days later, but was jailed again after he continued to operate his Web site, which has a vulgar word in its Web address. An appeals court ordered his release late last month.

Wilson allegedly provided free porn to soldiers in exchange for photos that included shots of mangled bodies. But it was the sexually oriented materials on his Web site that got him into trouble, Polk sheriff's officials have said.

Walters, who has since moved to Orange County, was operating his Web site from a Lakeland apartment at the time of his arrest.

Wilson became a key figure in a controversy that reached the Pentagon after U.S. military officials became aware of his site and its grisly content and Islamic officials complained to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The Army was unable to identify soldiers who might have submitted shots of bodies and body parts, Army spokesman Paul Boyce said in October. After a preliminary inquiry, the Army warned troops in the war zone about misuse of digital photographs and e-mail, which might constitute conduct unbecoming of a soldier.

01-13-2006	#1
Mike AI Administrator Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 11,618	Chris Wilson pleads guilty, banned from running adult websites http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBMXPJWEIE.html BARTOW - A Web site operator pleaded no contest today to five misdemeanor obscenity charges in a plea deal that would ban him from offering a sexually oriented adult Internet site for five years. Chris Wilson, who became well known for offering both porn and gruesome war photos on his site, will be sentenced April 21. If Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance goes along with with the deal, Wilson will be sentenced to the time already served in Polk County jail and five years' probation. The state is dropping its one felony obscenity charge and all but five of the 300 misdemeanor obscenity charges against him. Wilson's lawyer, Lawrence Walters of Orlando, said he was pleased with the resolution, which leaves his client without facing the prospect of more jail time or a felony conviction. ``I'm glad it's over. I want to move on,'' said Wilson, a 28- year-old former police officer. Walters said his client has a couple of ``media oriented opportunities'' but wouldn't elaborate on his future plans. Polk County has had a long crusade against obscenity and has shut down dozens of strip clubs, adult bookstores, lingerie modeling studios and similar businesses. Wilson was first jailed in October on 301 obscenity-related counts. He posted bond a few days later, but was jailed again after he continued to operate his Web site, which has a vulgar word in its Web address. An appeals court ordered his release late last month. Wilson allegedly provided free porn to soldiers in exchange for photos that included shots of mangled bodies. But it was the sexually oriented materials on his Web site that got him into trouble, Polk sheriff's officials have said. Walters, who has since moved to Orange County, was operating his Web site from a Lakeland apartment at the time of his arrest. Wilson became a key figure in a controversy that reached the Pentagon after U.S. military officials became aware of his site and its grisly content and Islamic officials complained to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The Army was unable to identify soldiers who might have submitted shots of bodies and body parts, Army spokesman Paul Boyce said in October. After a preliminary inquiry, the Army warned troops in the war zone about misuse of digital photographs and e-mail, which might constitute conduct unbecoming of a soldier. __________________ Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!