Man Convicted for Possessing ‘Cartoon Child Exploitation Material’

Published on January 28th, 2010

An Ipswitch man has admitted downloading graphic cartoon porn images featuring child characters from The Simpsons and The Powerpuff Girls TV shows.

The 28-year-old is now a registered sex offender and will have to report to police after pleading guilty in Ipswich District Court to having the bizarre images on his computer.
[...]
Milner told police he would co-operate but did not want to give them his computer.

But an hour-and-a-half later he phoned police and said they could now have his computer.

Officers discovered the computer would no longer turn on but a year later police forensic experts recovered 64 images of cartoon child exploitation material in the machine’s recycle bin.

The images depicted figures from The Simpsons, The Powerpuff Girls and The Incredibles in sexually explicit positions.

Good grief. Now you can be charged with ‘child exploitation material’ where no child was exploited. I’m all for punishing those who exploit children, especially producers of child pornography, and this creepy guy seems to be in the red zone, but this sets a dangerous precedent IMHO. Thoughts?

39 users responded in " Man Convicted for Possessing ‘Cartoon Child Exploitation Material’ "

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# 1 Improbus said, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

If you are a pervert it would behoove you to learn basic computer forensics and use encryption. Duh. This guy’s crime was ignorance.

# 2 Benjamin said, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:57 pm

If you are a pervert it would behoove you to learn to not look at this kind of material on the Internet or on his computer at all. Duh. This guy’s crime was ignorance.

Bart Simpson is 23, so he is of age anyway.

# 3 Greensaab said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

Thought crime next?

# 4 Jmac said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:10 pm

Creepy yes, harmful no. The point of child pornography laws is to prevent children from being hurt and/or abused. This guy was not hurting anyone.

# 5 OvenMaster said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:13 pm

What a doofus. Next time, use Eraser.

# 6 Breetai said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:17 pm

With that line of thought satire is clearly illegal. I guess that means this place and everyone here is clearly guilty of thought crimes.

# 7 Angel H. Wong said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:18 pm

IMNHO that’s just plain stupid, fan art of that kind has been around since the internet began. After all, there’s something called rule 34.

Case in point? This pic has been floating since 1998. Which btw is very NSFW.

http://40ozmaltliquor.com/images/logos/looney.jpg

# 8 The Watcher said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Nanny State….

Unless you’re a Muslim, in which case the punishment isn’t severe enough….

Idiots….

So, what harm did that guy cause, other than inconveniencing a few electrons?

# 9 Rick Cain said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

I hope dragons having sex with cars isn’t illegal.

# 10 RBG said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:24 pm

“Crown Prosecutor Suzanne Cantatore said the sentence needed to be harsh as it was Milner’s second conviction for having child exploitation material.

The Leichhardt resident was convicted of possessing child exploitation material in 2003 after 59 sexual images of actual youngsters were found on his computer.”

I take it for some folks here they would be completely ok with photo-quality sketches and animation of child sex? I doubt the same for your neighbors.

RBG

# 11 Animby said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:31 pm

I’m not sure how old Lisa was when the series started 21 years ago but she must be above the age of consent by now!

Why does it take a year to check a hard drive? Don’t they have a geek squad? Pro’lly had to send it to Scotland Yard and they’re still busy looking for that guy in Whitechapel.

# 12 WaynePhilips said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:35 pm

What about my sticky note porn? I can’t verify the age of my stick figures.

# 13 Dirk Thundernuts said, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:43 pm

Marge Simpson is really hot:

# 14 amodedoma said, on January 28th, 2010 at 4:02 pm

There’s a whole collection of Japanese comics that I recommend you stay away from, just about anything labeled Hentai or Ecchi. In fact I think I’ll have to change my laptop wallpaper before I travel again. I mean it’s not anything outwardly sexual but where’s the limit? I didn’t know a naked cross between a young woman and a woodland creature drawn by a japanese artist was criminal, but who knows – furry breasts are clearly visible. What’s the limit to fantasy? Near as I can tell if we all were judged by the content of our fantasies we’d all be in jail.

# 15 Dirk Thundernuts said, on January 28th, 2010 at 4:07 pm

#14 – Thanks for checking them out for us!

/rolls eyes

# 16 Cap'nKangaroo said, on January 28th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

Did Patrick Norton not already explain the preferred method of erasing images on a computer? Sledgehammer to the hard drive does it every time!

# 17 Greg Allen said, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

I tried to Google it but I lost my patience.

Anyone remember this?

During the Clinton-era a child pornography law was passed but it was over-ruled by the Supreme Court because it over-reached by banning simulated child exploitation.

I think the S.C. ruling even mentioned the film “American Beauty” because the actress played an minor child.

Anyone else here have better memory than me?

# 18 f_w said, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Moral panic.

People like to be able to say they are better then some one else, or able to point to some one and say they are bad.

But in this case i wish people would get a life.
There are SO much in the real world that’s need to be dealt with.
(Like actual child molesters)
But this is just a waste of time for people whit too much time on their hand, and too little brain in their heads.
For god sakes, do something useful if you got the time and inclination.
Don’t try to pat yourselves on your back trying to say you do something worth while with this.
It is just pathetic if you do.

# 19 f_w said, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:26 pm

At #10
I would have more understanding of the conviction if it where.
But it was not so your reasoning fails.
And images such as you describes still hurts no one.
If no one was hurt, or leads to be hurt, so no one should cry foul for it.

Creepy or not, we do not want to know what you do with all those shoes at night, behind closed doors.
But you should not go to jail or get on a list for sexing up shoes.

# 20 Skeptic said, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm

Stupid Flanders!

# 21 KMFIX said, on January 28th, 2010 at 6:44 pm

no child, no crime.

# 22 just me said, on January 28th, 2010 at 7:23 pm

Here’s something interesting. You can view and/or own pictures and even videos of someone being murdered (either in real life or fiction), or being raped (fictionally), and be considered a perfectly normal, sane, and safe human. But if you try to view and/or possess pictures of child pornography, then you are dangerous pedophile and you must be closely tracked by the State for the rest of your life, if not imprisoned. It’s interesting how this kind of thinking isn’t even questioned. It has become automatic.

# 23 RBG said, on January 28th, 2010 at 7:51 pm

21: I suppose you also think no criminal found, no crime; & no conviction, no crime, huh? I know of lawyers disbarred because they temporarily borrowed their client’s money thinking: No victim, no crime.

Many crimes simply depend upon intellectual intent.

19 f_w: “But you should not go to jail or get on a list for sexing up shoes.”

No, just for sexing up children or behaving like you might. Most people see the difference and are concerned about such things.

RBG

# 24 June said, on January 28th, 2010 at 8:34 pm

This has happened and will happen again.

—-

Even with photographs I don’t see possession as a crime when another person already did the photography.

# 25 KMFIX said, on January 28th, 2010 at 8:43 pm

#23.. Was a child hurt or adversely effected by this?

# 26 deowll said, on January 28th, 2010 at 9:56 pm

#17 The courts struck it down because the law said that _any_ image of someone less than 18 or who appeared to be less than 18 could be used as justification to charge the person with child pornography cartoon and fantasy characters included. All they had to do was claim that you felt lust due to the image.

I think the cartoon part is still standing but I’m not sure. I think they just refined it to limit it to more or less nude images or sexually suggestive images. Not sure about the true legal status of Madonna and child pictures.

# 27 Animby said, on January 28th, 2010 at 10:12 pm

# 23 RBG said, “Many crimes simply depend upon intellectual intent.”

You must be Roman Catholic. You don’t have to commit the sin, you merely have to THINK about doing it. Too late. You’re damned.

# 28 RBG said, on January 28th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

27 Animby: And all court judges and juries must be RC too when they must rule on the intent of an accused.

25 KNFIX: Children are hurt every day by pedophiles trying to get their fix. Look at #24 June already trying to justify child porn. Next he’ll be excusing it because it was made outside US jurisdiction.

RBG

# 29 Uncle Patso said, on January 29th, 2010 at 1:45 am

The way it was explained to me once was that if you draw a dot on a piece of paper and say that it represents someone underage having sex, then you can be arrested and charged.

—

The recycle bin, how stupidly embarrassing!

# 30 KMFIX said, on January 29th, 2010 at 2:42 am

#28… Still didn’t answer the question as you know how absurd this situation is.

Yes, children are hurt every day. People are killed every day. I just saw a cartoon lighthouse keeper get his head chopped off by a laser in a BBC report. Does that mean I’m going to go and kill lighthouse keepers?

Should I now have to report to the police department every time I move to let them know where I’m now located because I saw a cartoon lighthouse keeper get his head cut off with a laser in a BBC report, so I’m most likely going to kill the local lighthouse keeper (if there is one)??

# 31 The0ne said, on January 29th, 2010 at 7:31 am

It think it’s a great thing. We should make it into a law immediately and enforced it 24/7. This way absolutely NO Japanese can reside in the US. The Anime and Manga and….everything else is a perfect example of what we, the great US, should not have around.

God Bless American and it’s dumbass politicians! And I’m pretty sure Seth Rogan is going to jail and hell for his Snuggles skit ><!

# 32 mylandr said, on January 29th, 2010 at 8:51 am

The “would be” U.S. version of this abomination was called COPA, the Child On-line Protection Act (of 1995, as I recall). Under COPA, any depiction of “underage” sexual behavior, even those which were implied, in ANY form whatsoever was a criminal act. The Supreme Court objected to the language used to define the criminal act as being too broad (and all-encompassing), which would make U.S. theatrical releases such as “The Blue Lagoon”, “Atlantic City”, “Taxi Driver”, and various other more artistic films into obscenity after-the-fact. N.B., the Supremes did NOT object to the IDEAs that generated the law, just the language.

# 33 The0ne said, on January 29th, 2010 at 9:39 am

#32
COPA stands for

Child OK for Porn Act. Get your facts straight. If it was a protection act, we would have seen more results!

And for the rest of you sick fcks, go to China, Indai for your twisted behaviors! It’s wide available there and you won’t get caught!

# 34 RBG said, on January 29th, 2010 at 9:49 am

30 KMFIX. As absurd as requiring me to wear a seatbelt when no one can directly show how anyone was hurt when I didn’t wear one last Friday.

COPA: Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

RBG

# 35 The0ne said, on January 29th, 2010 at 10:10 am

I was being sarcastic about China and India but wanted to let all know that every time I go to China for business I try my best to talk to officials (lawyers, officers, etc.) and seek non profit organizations locally (which is zilch) to see if anyone, anyone can do something about the kids being exploited…in most cases right in front of their eyes.

If there is a Devil, I hope he has place for these ahole people there.

# 36 KMFIX said, on January 29th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

#34.. I don’t agree with seatbelt laws either…and that’s a retarded analogy.

I’m not going to bother responding to you anymore. You obviously can’t think for yourself, and that’s why these laws exist.

# 37 The DON said, on January 30th, 2010 at 6:14 pm

In the UK we have the same kind of law:
An image depicting a child (or someone who appears to be under age) in a sexual context is considered pornographic and therefore illegal.
It has happened in the UK where a man with real child pornographic material was also prosecuted for having an image of a young boy in his swimming trunks. This image was stored in the same place as the real porn, and when questioned, the man admitted getting sexual gratification from the picture. Despite the pic not being pornographic, he was charged for that picture being pornographic because of his admission.
I think this goes a bit too far, but he was guilty anyway.

# 38 Free Spirit said, on January 31st, 2010 at 12:15 pm

RBG:

So you think “behaving like you might” commit a crime is itself a crime?

If so, then behaving like you might behave like you might commit a crime is also a crime. And so on, until everything is a crime.

A crime is a deliberate action causing or attempting to cause actual harm to a real person.

Any other definition of crime is a politically-motivated fiction.

Take care that your knee-jerk panic at the phrase “kiddie porn” doesn’t cloud your judgement…

# 39 Jeff Little said, on February 3rd, 2010 at 4:33 am

#23.. Was a child hurt or adversely effected by this?

Yes a judge

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