Bernie ward gets 7 years

A federal judge Thursday gave SF talk radio host Bernie Ward more than seven years in prison for downloading graphic images of child sex and distributing them on the Internet.

The progressive, former KGO talker and Catholic priest pleaded guilty in May to sending between 15 and 150 pornographic images by email, which he said were part of some book research.

His wife and four children attended the hearing, and speaking briefly, he took full responsibility, telling the judge, "I regret my actions, the harm they caused my family, my friends and this community."

From the SF Chronicle:

Ward's case is a "personal tragedy," and a prison term may not be the best way to help him or the children exploited by pornography, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said as he imposed the sentence in a San Francisco courtroom. But he noted that federal law requires at least a five-year sentence, and said some aspects of the case were disturbing.

Walker said Ward, a former Roman Catholic priest whose KGO broadcasts included the Sunday morning "God Talk" program, "had an opportunity to think long, hard and deeply about the problems of child abuse" in the Catholic Church. Why, the judge asked, "when he encountered his own predilection (for child pornography), didn't he seek treatment, seek help?"
[...]
Walker said he would go along with a defense request that Ward serve his sentence - seven years and three months - in the minimum-security prison in Lompoc (Santa Barbara County). Prosecutors did not object. The judge gave Ward until noon today to turn himself in to federal marshals.

Ward's sentence could be reduced by about a year for good behavior in prison. After his release, he will be required for the rest of his life to register with police as a sex offender.

Ward holds a master's degree in theology and spent two years in the priesthood before leaving to get married. He worked for three years as a legislative assistant for then-Rep. Barbara Boxer before joining KGO in San Francisco as a reporter in 1985. He became a talk-show host in 1992 and held forth on news and politics for three hours every weeknight, while discussing religious issues on Sunday mornings.

Comments

[Puget Sound]

So much for that book defense. On the day he got nailed by the FBI, he talked to his close friend Michael Pritchard at the KGO Station. It went like this according to the court transcripts:
"Dan Noyes: "He all along, since his arrest, has been talking about how this was research for a book. In that initial conversation with you was there mention of a book or research?"

Michael Pritchard: "Never. Never mentioned anything about that, never mentioned that."

Dan Noyes: "What do you think about him saying that?"

Michael Pritchard: "I feel so sad for him that he doesn't just let the wall down and say what he needs to say and that is my hope, my wish and my prayer that he would do that for himself."

So much for the phony ass 'book defense.'

Bernie Ward is a sick man. He needs treatment and to be away from children. The fact that he took his own wife and children to his sentencing in an effort to get a lighter sentence is another disgrace to a disgraceful man.
See the Radio Equializer.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Damn. I've known people to get far less time for actualy having sex with a minor let alone possessing pics of them.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Well obviously the research explanation was BS, he clearly took that line from Pete Townshend and it's not like there are a lot of plausible excuses for downloading CP. Good detective work though.

[Duffman]

sorry BW...but you must now face 'Bubba'...and sparky, et al may be you can learn to 'wise up' in your 'character judgement'...WOW!

now, was R/Rhodes really 'pushed down' like you'all professed?????

[Puget Sound]

ah yes, that would be a 'lioness of the left' herr duffman. randi was the victim of a karl rove inspired attack in which he forced her to drink copious amounts of beer and then let her stagger down the street. being a normal condition for randi, the evil karl rove arranged for the curbs to be raised an extra 3 inches. it was those 3 inches that did her in.

actually randi is really a 'lying ass' of the left.

[Upton]

Though he was ok, Bernie was never my favorite liberal talker. Hosts like Mike Webb or Ray Taliaferro were always preferable. Now 2 of those 3 are gone.

Seven years seems a bit extreme and you have to wonder if he was targeted in some way.

Heck, Billo was making obscene phone calls, if anyone deserves a stretch in prison it's that lying jerk.

[KS]

Figures that Barbara Boxer tried to defend the indefensible "Psycho" Ward, advocating the phony book defense.

The best thing that could happen to California is to vote her ars out in Nov. - problem is California is beyond help in many ways...

[David Tatelman]

Good luck with that. Barbara Boxer isn't up for office this year.

[orcas]

Is there a place deep enough in the bowels of Hell for a demented fat bastard like Bernie Ward?

[Duffman]

Speaking of FB's, have you seen mercifucirous's honeymoon pic.

[KS]

"Is there a place deep enough in the bowels of Hell for a demented fat bastard like Bernie Ward?"

How can that be ? He's a liberal Democrat, not a Repug/Rethug.

[storsie]

I have no sympathy for Ward. He deserves to become fish food.

You guys are mistaken about Randi, though. She was attacked. Who said so? Um, her doctor. We don't know whether it was a simple mugging, or a 'hit' by right-wing goons. Nothing was taken, though, and she was hit to the mouth. That's the classic means by which the Mafia says 'STFU.'

I thought we'd been through this. God you guys can be think-headed.

[david]

is ward related to michael moore? they look so smiliar in phsycique that one has to wonder if they share the same sensibility when it comes to children.

[Puget Sound]

here is something ironic involving bernie ward and priests back in 1995.

Bernie Busts Priests Wins Award

Wonder if he felt any conflict on this.