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SF radio personality Bernie Ward indicted on child porn charges
Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 6, 2007
(12-06) 15:29 PST San Francisco - --
Bernie Ward, a popular liberal San Francisco radio talk show host and former
Catholic priest, has been indicted on federal child pornography charges,
authorities said today.
Ward, 56, surrendered to federal authorities earlier today but the specifics
of the allegations against him are under seal, officials said.
Ward hosts a nightly news talk program on KGO 810 AM as well as GodTalk on
Sundays. He had been a priest with the Society of the Precious Blood order.
The radio station's Web site said that he was indicted on two counts of
child pornography using the Internet.
Ward's attorney said today that the charges are based on incidents that
occurred more than four years ago and were part of research for a book.
"As everybody knows, Bernie, for over 20 years, has been a progressive,
opposed to insensitive authority - he has been a champion of charities,
nonprofits for the homeless," said Doron Weinberg, who appeared in federal
court today as Ward's lawyer.
"More than three years ago, Bernie was doing research for a book he was
doing on hypocrisy in America," Weinberg said.
As part of the research, Ward downloaded "a few images" of child
pornography, and, Weinberg said, "it came to the attention of the government
in late 2004."
"They investigated and they never found any involvement in child pornography
other than this period that he accessed these images," Weinberg said. "The
government knows that Bernie was doing this for an investigation he was
doing for a book. But the government believes he violated the letter of the
law and they have gone ahead and prosecuted him."
Weinberg stressed that "the fact that these events happened three years ago
and they are just being prosecuted shows the fact that nobody believes that
he is a child predator."
"He is just being prosecuted for a mistake he made (more than) three years
ago," the lawyer said.
Federal authorities seized Ward's computer in early 2005 and there was no
evidence of child pornography or any other impropriety, Weinberg added.
"We have been trying to convince the government that his is not something
they should proceed with. They said, 'He violated the law, sorry.' "
A statement from KGO's operations director said, "Ward has been a valued,
long-time employee of KGO Radio. We were just recently made aware of these
serious charges and are surprised and concerned by their nature.
"As the matter is currently pending in federal court, we will have no
additional comment at this time."
E-mail Jaxon Van Derbeken at jvanderbeken@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/06/BAFHTPMQD.DTL&tsp=1
Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 6, 2007
(12-06) 15:29 PST San Francisco - --
Bernie Ward, a popular liberal San Francisco radio talk show host and former
Catholic priest, has been indicted on federal child pornography charges,
authorities said today.
Ward, 56, surrendered to federal authorities earlier today but the specifics
of the allegations against him are under seal, officials said.
Ward hosts a nightly news talk program on KGO 810 AM as well as GodTalk on
Sundays. He had been a priest with the Society of the Precious Blood order.
The radio station's Web site said that he was indicted on two counts of
child pornography using the Internet.
Ward's attorney said today that the charges are based on incidents that
occurred more than four years ago and were part of research for a book.
"As everybody knows, Bernie, for over 20 years, has been a progressive,
opposed to insensitive authority - he has been a champion of charities,
nonprofits for the homeless," said Doron Weinberg, who appeared in federal
court today as Ward's lawyer.
"More than three years ago, Bernie was doing research for a book he was
doing on hypocrisy in America," Weinberg said.
As part of the research, Ward downloaded "a few images" of child
pornography, and, Weinberg said, "it came to the attention of the government
in late 2004."
"They investigated and they never found any involvement in child pornography
other than this period that he accessed these images," Weinberg said. "The
government knows that Bernie was doing this for an investigation he was
doing for a book. But the government believes he violated the letter of the
law and they have gone ahead and prosecuted him."
Weinberg stressed that "the fact that these events happened three years ago
and they are just being prosecuted shows the fact that nobody believes that
he is a child predator."
"He is just being prosecuted for a mistake he made (more than) three years
ago," the lawyer said.
Federal authorities seized Ward's computer in early 2005 and there was no
evidence of child pornography or any other impropriety, Weinberg added.
"We have been trying to convince the government that his is not something
they should proceed with. They said, 'He violated the law, sorry.' "
A statement from KGO's operations director said, "Ward has been a valued,
long-time employee of KGO Radio. We were just recently made aware of these
serious charges and are surprised and concerned by their nature.
"As the matter is currently pending in federal court, we will have no
additional comment at this time."
E-mail Jaxon Van Derbeken at jvanderbeken@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/06/BAFHTPMQD.DTL&tsp=1