Lt. Todd Chism, a Spokane, Washington firefighter, is one soon to be forgotten victim. Lt. Chism “was arrested and accused by the Washington State Patrol of possessing child pornography, then was released after investigators determined he was innocent”. The full text, as long is it remains available is here. The evidence used to justify the arrest was flimsy at best. The problem is that these days being arrested and accused of child porn possession or downloading is tantamount to being found guilty. Why? Well consider that case of Michael D. Gates of Coopersburg, PA. As of today, October 2, 2008, Gates has been arrested and charged, but not tried or convicted or plead guilty to child porn possession. Some of the comments to the news story I linked include
“Shoot him” - Dave1206
“Hang him by his testicles.” - OMG
“Tattoo his forehead ‘pervert’. Then castrate him!” - Parent of Two
This is what people are saying about a man who has not yet been convicted of anything. Gates has not yet had his day in court. Gates has not yet been tried by a jury of his peers. Gates should be presumed innocent still since he’s not yet been found guilty of anything. Yet we get responses like those above. I think Gates probably is guilty as charged, and will either plead guilty or will be found guilty at trial, but he deserves his day in court. Now consider that the comments being made about Gates are probably the same kind of comments that were made about Lt. Chism, a completely innocent man, when news of his arrest first broke.
http://cpexplosion.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/spokane-firefighter-may-sue-over-child-porn-arrest/#comments
