I hope he rots!

[tyketime]

This goes beyond being just a sick bastard:

In an emotional closing argument yesterday, a defense attorney for accused Delaware County child-molester John Jackey Worman implored a federal jury not to engage in "vigilante justice," but to acquit his client of child-porn charges based on what most people would consider a technicality.

It's a tall order, considering that less than 24 hours ago, the jury had been watching a video of Worman committing unspeakable acts of sexual abuse on a 3-month-old infant.

"I assume right now that you hate John Worman," said his court-appointed attorney, Mark Cedrone. "Guess what? He's not on my dinner invitation list, either."

Worman, 41, of Colwyn, is facing up to 1,680 years in prison if convicted of 55 counts of manufacturing and one count of possessing child pornography.

The burly, ashen-faced man can be seen clearly in many of the photos and videos that authorities confiscated in 2006. Police recovered 1.2 million still images and 11,000 video clips and have identified 12 children Worman allegedly abused over a nine-year period.

In order to convict him of the federal charges, however, the government must prove that Worman produced the child porn using equipment that was manufactured outside of Pennsylvania.

"What those children had to endure is horrible, despicable," Cedrone said. "That's not what's at issue here."

Cedrone argued that prosecutors have not linked many of the images to a specific camera, and, therefore, cannot prove that interstate or foreign commerce was involved. He said forcing the jury to view pictures of Worman molesting children - one juror needed a break last week because the images were so repulsive - was a "diversionary tactic" by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella.

"Mr. Worman is not on trial for what he did to those young girls. He is on trial for whether he manufactured child pornography," Cedrone told the jury. "There's no federal crime for abusing a child. If you don't like it, write your congressman."

Rotella said that downloading, copying or saving images to a computer's hard drive - where many of the pictures were eventually recovered - is also part of the production process, and that all of the hard drives, cameras and other equipment used were manufactured out of state. She called Worman's defense a "desperate" attempt to beat the charges, each of which carry a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

[DaddyTorgo]

you tease - what's the technicality?

[EagleFan]

What's up the the attorney calling it a technicality?

[tyketime]

Sorry! I was so caught up in the figures I didn't copy the rest of the story. It's in there now...

[molson]

Did Pennsylvania charge him with child abuse? It would seem they'd have a good case.

[PackerFanatic]

I understand everyone is subject to due process and everyone deserves a chance to be defended, but that lawyer is grasping at straws.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

you tease - what's the technicality?

It sounds like trying to charge him for a federal crime based on the use of interstate commerce is the technicality.

[molson]

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

I understand everyone is subject to due process and everyone deserves a chance to be defended, but that lawyer is grasping at straws.

Either that, or the federal prosecutor was very sloppy about one of the requirements of this statute.

[Kodos]

This guy needs a dirtnap.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by molson

Did Pennsylvania charge him with child abuse? It would seem they'd have a good case.

That'd probably be the better route to go through because, apparently, they may have problems proving interstate commerce. I'm guessing the PA child abuse ruling didn't put in in jail for life? But I can't imagine that's the case with all these children involved.

[Karlifornia]

It's just a lawyer being a lawyer.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

It's just a lawyer being a lawyer.

Exactly. What other defense does he have? I do wonder why this was tried federally, though. If he was tranmitting it over state lines or something, ok. But I do think this is a reach for a federal trial, when he has to have commited numerous state crimes (Rape, Statutory Rape, Child Pornography, Child Endangerment, etc. etc. etc.). Did the State botch the convicition, or is this just over-kill? Come, Robin, to the google!

[molson]

He was convicted today:

The Associated Press: Pa. jury convicts man in child pornography case

[GrantDawg]

BTW, the only news I have found so far (other than two women are also charged) is that he was found guilty today.

[GrantDawg]

Bite me, Molson.

[Schmidty]

Man, it's times like these that makes it hard for me to be against the death penalty.

[fantom1979]

It would really be a shame if the bus taking him to jail accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up in Lake Erie.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Man, it's times like these that makes it hard for me to be against the death penalty.

I still can't figure out how painless execution via lethal injection is considered a worse penalty than life without parole at a max prison.

A lot of times, these guys want to kill themselves and don't have the guts (see the Joseph Duncan case here in Idaho). The government gives them what they want, and they win at the end.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by molson

A lot of times, these guys want to kill themselves and don't have the guts (see the Joseph Duncan case here in Idaho). The government gives them what they want, and they win at the end.

I thought Duncan got a death sentence in his Federal case?

nm: I misread your post.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by molson

I still can't figure out how painless execution via lethal injection is considered a worse penalty than life without parole at a max prison.

A lot of times, these guys want to kill themselves and don't have the guts (see the Joseph Duncan case here in Idaho). The government gives them what they want, and they win at the end.

I sa y one afternoon in max with the local population and the matter would be taken care of by his fellow inmates. This guy sure won't last long and hopefully it is painful when he gets it.

[Izulde]

I'm curious as to what the other ages of the children were. The repeated stories tossing in the 3 months old thing is irritating in its sensationalism.

(Note: That's not to say it isn't disturbing. I have trouble comprehending what would make an infant attractive to an individual in that way.)

[Autumn]

It's bizarre that they didn't pursue this on the state level if there was any difficulty in proving a federal crime. It's not really fair to put a jury in the place of possibly having to acquit a sicko like this, but if the crime in question can't be proven it's what they should do.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Izulde

I'm curious as to what the other ages of the children were. The repeated stories tossing in the 3 months old thing is irritating in its sensationalism.

(Note: That's not to say it isn't disturbing. I have trouble comprehending what would make an infant attractive to an individual in that way.)

At least one was 10. I'm not sure about others.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Autumn

It's bizarre that they didn't pursue this on the state level if there was any difficulty in proving a federal crime. It's not really fair to put a jury in the place of possibly having to acquit a sicko like this, but if the crime in question can't be proven it's what they should do.

It is, and there is a reason, but I haven't found what it was.