Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Two Disc Jockeys Plead Guilty In Gay Porn Case
KTHV Channel 11 files the story about Chris Browne and Phillip Beard. The former 1037 The BUZZ radio personalities were accused of distributing pornographic materials to a minor. The offense occurred at the 2004 Gay Pride Parade in Conway.
UPDATE: Today's Democrat-Gazette has a more comprehensive story. That site requires a subscription.
The original charge was a felony and the Faulkner County prosecutor stated that he took the case as a "civil rights" matter, whatever that means. Today, the whole thing came crashing to an anti-climatic ending as both entered guilty please to misdemeanor charges. Each was sentenced to 24 hours of community service and will pay $250 fines.
it was a good outcome, unless you count the harm done to the public perception of justice caused by the district attorney. This thing was a colossal waste of taxpayer money.
H. G. Foster, prosecuting attorney up there in Conway, comes off looking like the supreme buffoon of all time. His office was not ready for trial, didn't have much of a case, and was counting on anti-gay prejudice to nail Chris and Flip.
There is plenty I could say, but it is probably better to let those sleeping dogs lie. I worked for Signal Media when all this came down. I saw how it came down too. Flip and Chris are good people and never deserved any of this. Being gullible and careless is not a crime.
UPDATE: Today's Democrat-Gazette has a more comprehensive story. That site requires a subscription.
The original charge was a felony and the Faulkner County prosecutor stated that he took the case as a "civil rights" matter, whatever that means. Today, the whole thing came crashing to an anti-climatic ending as both entered guilty please to misdemeanor charges. Each was sentenced to 24 hours of community service and will pay $250 fines.
it was a good outcome, unless you count the harm done to the public perception of justice caused by the district attorney. This thing was a colossal waste of taxpayer money.
H. G. Foster, prosecuting attorney up there in Conway, comes off looking like the supreme buffoon of all time. His office was not ready for trial, didn't have much of a case, and was counting on anti-gay prejudice to nail Chris and Flip.
There is plenty I could say, but it is probably better to let those sleeping dogs lie. I worked for Signal Media when all this came down. I saw how it came down too. Flip and Chris are good people and never deserved any of this. Being gullible and careless is not a crime.
