Recently, a Memphis, Tennessee Internet radio host learned the hard way, that certain actions are considered to be a crime, regardless of the reasons or motives behind the actions. After posting a child porn image on his Facebook page, he was arrested by the police. While his intent was to help catch the perpetrator in the photo, the police said that didn’t matter, and charged him with multiple sex crimes.
The investigation into the photo that has gone viral is now being conducted in nearly five different states. Memphis police say they are working with agencies in those other states in an attempt to discover where the victim is located.
After the radio host was arrested, he stated that he felt the child in the photograph was in danger, and that it was his intention to go after the perpetrator of the child. He argues that he had no criminal intent when posting the image.
However, the police are responding that it is a crime to post any pornographic images of children online, regardless of whether the intent was criminal or not. It is important to highlight their legal reasoning: that when someone reposts a pornographic image of child online, they are actually manipulating the image. This means they are taking possession of it, which is therefore illegal.
The radio host has been charged with multiple sex crimes, including Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. To note the seriousness of these allegations, the last charge can result in a minimum sentence of eight years in prison.
Source: WHBQ Fox 13 Memphis, “Child porn image search crosses 5 states,” Sarah Bleau, Nov. 15, 2012
