Fergie's Tech Blog

Police blotter: Porn burns Navy officer

Declan McCullagh writes in C|Net News:

Chief Warrant Officer Oliver J. Smith had discovered a profitable side business: adult entertainment on the Internet. Smith ran two Web sites in which he posted photos of himself and his ex-wife (who had married another naval officer) having sex and, in the words of the court, engaging in "fetish activities."

Smith also enlisted the help of a subordinate petty officer to post hundreds of photos they obtained from an unnamed source. The duo didn't keep the detailed records of performers' ages that are required under federal law, and at least one actor was a minor.

After their side business was discovered during an investigation of child pornography being produced in base housing, Smith, a 24-year Navy veteran with a distinguished career, left town on an unauthorized absence of 17 months.

The Navy's criminal appeals court upheld Smith's sentence of two years confinement and forfeiture of $1,000 in pay a month for 240 months ($240,000 over 20 years).

posted by Fergie @ 8/05/2005 07:02:00 AM