cybercrime-alerts
Sat, 16 Mar 2002 17:57:51 -0800
* via http://theMezz.com/lists * subscribe at http://techPolice.com 'Dear Abby' letter writer charged with child pornography MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) --A man who wrote to "Dear Abby" for advice on how to handle his fantasies about having sex with girls was charged Wednesday with possessing child pornography after the columnist turned him in, authorities say. "Dear Abby" columnist Jeanne Phillips, the daughter of the column's founder, Pauline Phillips, called police after receiving the letter. Jeanne Phillips, who shares her mother's pen name Abigail Van Buren, said she agonized over whether to report the man, since the column's credibility is based on the anonymity given those seeking her advice. "I lost sleep, didn't sleep for days, because I really believe this man wrote to me genuinely seeking help," she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I was torn, because my readers do turn to me for help, yet there was the priority of the safety of those young girls." Phillips added: "I believe he was seeking help, and I hope that is considered and I hope he gets the help he so obviously needs." She was said to be traveling Wednesday and did not return a call from The Associated Press. The man, Paul Weiser, 28, was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. The judge set his bail at $10,000, and ordered him to avoid computers and contact with anyone under 18. He was released Wednesday night; a family member who answered the door at his home declined comment. Police said 40 pornographic photographs of children were found in his computer after his arrest Monday. "He acknowledges he needs help and denies ever acting upon any desires," said prosecutor Paul Tiffin. Weiser could get up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count, if convicted. He did not speak during Wednesday's brief court hearing except to answer yes when the judge asked if he understood the proceedings. The judge also ordered Weiser to participate in a mental health program. Tom Hayes, Weiser's attorney, said he hoped Phillips' call to the police would not deter others from seeking help. He declined further comment. A preliminary hearing was set for March 25. Pauline Phillips created the "Dear Abby" column in 1956. Her daughter has contributed to the syndicated column since the early 1980s and took over most of the duties in the early 1990s. The column appears in more than 1,200 newspapers around the globe, according to Universal Press Syndicate. The elder Phillips' twin sister, Eppie Lederer, is the advice columnist Ann Landers. http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/03/13/dear.abby.arrest.ap/index.html ============================================================ Send the World's most popular eCards: birthdays, holidays, and more. Send as many eCards as you want all YEAR long. Click here to join Blue Mountain Unlimited! http://click.topica.com/caaaiMab1dhr0b2EDp2f/BlueMountain ============================================================ --via http://techPolice.com archive: http://theMezz.com/cybercrime/archive subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --via http://theMezz.com ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1dhr0.b2EDp2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================