Read Bernie’s Plea Deal

Read for yourself what Bernie Ward pleaded guilty to yesterday, and the possible sentence he faces. As we reported, it’s one count Distribution of Child Pornography. But, here are the elements of the crime.

Ward distributed the image via interstate commerce because he used AOL -- the image went from Ward’s home in San Francisco to AOL’s servers in Virginia to Sex Fairy’s computer in Oakdale, California. The image was “an actual minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” During the on-line chat with Sex Fairy, Ward described the image as a fourteen-year-old boy, a twelve-year-old girl and young mother. The boy was naked, the girl clothed, and the mother topless -- they were all touching in a sexual way. He also confirms he sent between 15 and 150 images of child pornography, including several that “involved sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.” That’s not the idea that Ward’s supporters floated after his arrest in December -- that he had innocent images of a family in a nudist colony.

Ward also confirms he understands he may not be able to vote after his felony conviction -- another interesting twist for a radio host who was so involved in the political process.

Comments

[Giovanni33]

Bernie should get hired back by KGO. He has a loyal fan base and was the best at his job (next to Ray Talliaferro). We need Bernie back on the air. Even if he is not perfect, and even if he did wrong, he is paying the price. Bernie proved that despite all this hanging over his head, he was able to continue delivering an outstanding performance on the radio. Now that Bernie has gained greater and broader interest, KGO should let Bernie's voice be heard again. We also will get to hear his side, his experiences, thoughts, of this very out of the ordinary experience. I hear that KGO will hire him back after he gets of jail. But, is there a way for him to broadcast while serving? Perhaps record tapes to be played on the air?

[patrick leddy]

The above person obviously doesn't
realize Bernie is a cog in the wheel of world wide child sex exploitation. Fry Bernie.

[Quacks like a duck]

Permalink, your astute observation that Bernie "...was able to continue delivering an outstanding performance on the radio" is a huge warning sign. You didn't even know this guy was searching for, downloading, and distributing child pornography to multiple people on the internet. He seemed like a normal guy just out there doing his job. You probably don't have kids, but if you do in the future, be sure to keep you eyes on them so they don't become victims of scum like this.

He was doing research for a book alright, his Auto-Biography!

For those of you who think this is some kind of conspiracy, WAKE UP!!! I don't think his liberal views in a liberal area were having any ill effects on the administration.

Even if the details in his conversations were made up, he was making up sexually explicit stories about HIS OWN KIDS and HIS KIDS FRIENDS. This guy would have to have one wild imagination to come up with all of that disgusting stuff off the cuff for "research".

The pig now wallows in his own filth.

[MichaelSF]

I hope law enforcement is checking out the people who post on here that appear to be supporting Bernie Ward a little too vigorously. Almost like they are defending and justifying their own conduct, if you know what I mean.

Some of you might want to take up a different cause than defending a criminal sexual deviant.

Yeah, you heard KGO will hire Bernie back after he gets out of jail. If you are going to fill your posts with BS, at least sound credible and not like Bernie's best buddy.

[KLau]

Hey Giovanni 3:3, you are one unusual dude. Living out their in your own world.
I mean not even Bernie's friends are on your planet of reality.
But I'm not angry at you, just curious about your mind. Or else you just get a charge out of stoking up the responses in others.
What ever rocks your boat.
Now, the question is, being such a huge Bernie fan, are you gonna visit him over the next few months or even later in confinment?
You said he lived quite near your current address.
Are we talking blocks or down the hall?
Anyway, even those of us who are 100% convinced of his transgressions don't all wish to see him confined a excessive length of time. But thats the law.
Hang in there Giovanni 3:3, you are one wacky man. Talk about alternative lifestyles, man, you've got a whole alternative planet you inhabit. Bizzaro land.
Enjoy the weekend...Get out and take a walk----If you can?----

[Giovanni33]

Does anyone have any direct experience or knowledge concerning life in a federal prison for someone like Bernie? I'd be interested to hear what it would be like for Bernie. Would he be in any danger? Would he be well cared for? US prisons do not have a good reputation but perhaps that is more hollywood than fact. I hope that, if he has to go to prison--however unjust and stupid that is--he is nonetheless well cared for and safe.

[Giovanni33]

Yes, Bernie lives close by, so maybe I'll see if I can visit him before he moves away to the Southern Californi area.

[sfnative]

In response to Michael's reply to another poster about BW 'being hired back,' two things about that: (1) Karel said on the show 2 nights ago that Bernie is finished in broadcasting; he said that with great assurance; (2) the tail end of a comment I heard from Gene Burns on his own show was that Bernie said recently, "My life is over."

Regarding federal prison, I have the same non-morbid intellectual curiosity. I truly want to know. From what Christine said last night on KGO, if he goes to a place like Lompoc, it will not be violent & there will be opportunity for personal rehabilitation.

My question is, What can a disgraced public figure who is a convicted felon without a war chest of savings from previous sources do with himself when he does get out? Doubtful anybody will hire him to teach, since he'll be a registered sex offender. And his Masters' degree does not qualify him to teach in most colleges, either. He could write, but that's banking on the writing being a phenomenal success in the crowded field of published books.

Anyone know what the future could hold at age, say, 62?

What's realistic?

[Jim]

Klau!...I have never been to prison but have known a couple in my life who have....it seems that in prison...its the first time in a man's life where he can have all the recreational sex he can endure.....and it's liberal bleeding heart attitudes that can forgive almost anything(if not everything) that have given perversions such as this open access to the social surface. We do seem to be forgiving don't we?....enough! Bernie Ward was never entertaining to me(and I tried to listen), but I'm one of those truly disgusting conservatives you hear so much about....look inside your own heart and ask what set of circumstances would cause you to act in a way that Bernie has admitted to...if you cannot find the answer to that question then ask yourself whether you really do need to forgive his actions....yes forgive the man but NOT the actions!...he put himself in this position...so come to him what may!

[sfnative]

^^ So is a federal minimum-security facility as dangerous & violent as any other?

Understand it will be federal not State. I thought that the environment was somewhat different at a min.security prison.

[MichaelSF]

The federal prison system is far better than the state facilities. The minimum security prisons are more like dormitories and life is not all that bad compared to being at a maximum or even medium security prison.

Some fed facilities are not even called prisons, because they are not in the true sense of the word. They have names like "camp" or "facility."

Bernie will be given a uniform to wear, usually cotton pants and a shirt. He will be told what time to get up, when lights will go out.

Most likely his facility will have TV, three decent meals a day, daily showers, allowed to keep way more personal items in his room than he would in a prison cell, and he will probably be given some substantive chores to perform on a daily basis.

I suspect going into a minimum security camp is one of the reasons Bernie pled out. Knowing where you will do time is a big factor in making the decision and it can be a deal breaker at times, if the government will not agree to where the convict can do time.

The only bad thing for Bernie is that he will be labeled a child molester even though that is not his crime. Inmates and guards will know that his crime had something to do with child porn and they won't make a distinction between him and pedophiles.

So while he won't get "shanked" in the facility, inmates and guards may not be too nice to him. His is the lowest of the low in terms of inmates doing time.

But as far as doing time he will be OK. Recall Martha Stewart and others who have done time in fed camps. No one gets to go there if they are perceived violent or a danger to others.

Heck, maybe he will see Wesley Snipes if he-who-should-have-known-better-than-to-cheat-Uncle-Sam gets locked up for tax evasion.

[Michael]

I think I now know how it feels to be the "family member" of the accused murderer or other horrible criminal. You see them there all the time wanting to support the accused no matter how much they might know deep down that their family member did something horrible.

I am very sad.
I am very upset
I will miss Bernie.
I hope he gets help.
This won't have a happy ending.

[One Crime against child/PRISON]

I hope Bernie gets all the help in the world he needs. AFTER HE DOES HIS TIME IN OPEN POPULATION OF THE PRISON. Perhaps bernie will leave prison as BERNICE!!

[MichaelSF]

I thought I saw somewhere that they were talking about the fed camp [institution] that Bernie would go to. Can't remember where it was, maybe the Herlong Camp, a nice looking place compared to San Quentin or Folsom state prisons.

But it still is a prison. As I recall it looks like some warehouses out in the middle of nowhere. Can't recall where it is, somewhere in northern California, I think.

There's not many in California, so I assume he would want to go to one close so his family could visit.

I don't think he qualifies, but you just know Bernie wishes he could do his time at home, with a bracelet. But I am not sure if the fed allows those with a long sentence to do home confinement.

But you can be sure he is trying for that.

[sfnative]

Thank you for the info, MichaelSF.

Other Michael, I think that, as host Gene Burns said this week, this is a Wagnerian tragedy all around. To me, the saddest part (& I think Gene was implying this, too) is that these events & outcome color even all the earlier *good* work BW ever did -- for example, charity efforts, for example, being a liberal voice (despite the manner in which he often used that voice on air), starting the GodTalk show, etc. This is possibly what I am angriest at, in him: wasted talent. I'm angry that his actions removed him from being that albeit controversial voice, angry that he misused his intelligence, angry as a parent myself that he has a shattered image as a father now as well. Lucky for him that his youngest is about to graduate h.s., but very, very unlucky for his family that they now are sharing in his shame.It could have been prevented.And many people tried to get him help, which, for ego reasons, he refused.

[Michael]

Bottom line: he's human and that disappoints most of his fans.

[MichaelSF]

As to the current crime, Bernie should not necessarily be put behind bars for a long time on that.

But the bigger concern I have is that what if Bernie has been acting out on his fantasies. We really don't know what he does when he is not around adults. We don't know what he does when he is out of town. We don't know when he might of acted out on his fantasies. At some point these kind of people do.

And while it is relevant to his character for sentencing, I am also concerned about his past and the allegations of molesting those two teenage girls [minors.]

That was a crime back then and even though he escaped prosecution, fast forward to 2005 and we see he is still committing crimes with minors [possessing and distributing child porn is a crime against those in the picture, at the minimum.]

I think Bernie and his lawyer made a BIG mistake in saying that those kids allegations and charges were false. They are also calling the priests and bishop liars who said he had problems back then.

The lawyer should have said "no comment" rather than accuse the girls and priest of being liars.

Noyes report was spot on in detail and answering every question I had on what really happened back then.

Bernie Ward for not accepting responsibility for ALL his bad acts since the 1970s deserves hard time.

What else has this guy done that we don't know about? What children or other teens has he molested? How much child porn has he actually distributed? Has he spied on his kids when they are in bed or in the shower? Has he gratified himself while thinking about his kids? [sounds like he has.]

Although Bernie won't say this, I will. "God help Bernie if between now and when he enters his plea and gets sentenced if other victims show up."

Not only will his deal go up in flames, but he can be prosecuted separately for those crimes. By pleading guilty on this crime Bernie does not get a pass on anything else criminal he has done.

If there's other stuff Bernie must be having some pretty sleepless nights.

[LEA]

As a Bernie Ward fan, I am saddened at the turn of events. I feel that once he does his time he does deserve to work again, as I don't want to pay for him as a welfare recipient...so the radio would be a good place for him to work. I feel for those who did not want to believe in it or his family and friends who stood by him....WHY BERNIE???....

[sfnative]

"Although Bernie won't say this, I will. "God help Bernie if between now and when he enters his plea and gets sentenced if other victims show up."

I think someone on air similarly pointed out the risky decision to delay sentencing until late August, for this and/or a similar reason.

"so the radio would be a good place for him to work."
^^ You have GOT to be joking. No, that is not going to happen, certainly not in the Bay Area, anyway. I don't think even KPFA would hire him.

[sfnative]

Just a modification to my above post. It's not that he could "never" be hired in radio, but I definitely think he will never be hired to be an on-air voice. There would be major listener objections to this, affecting ratings of wherever his identity would be apparent. However, should KGO decide to be ultra-compassionate, they could hire him as a silent investigative reporter without a byline. But they may feel so betrayed themselves, and ripped off after all the years they kept him despite his visible rage & their begging him to get help, that it may be too late for him in 5 yrs.

[MichaelSF]

SFNative, that's right. KGO has its reputation to think about. No way they would allow him back on the air, if for no other reason than Bernie's betrayal. [E.g., Bernie knew for three years this day was coming. He should have left KGO long ago rather than humiliate the station and forcing them to fire him.]

To those advocating his return, what are you proposing he talk about during his show?

On air talent is there for one reason, so KGO can sell ads, produce revenues, pay salaries and run a profitable business. The guy would be a financial loss to the station.

Regardless of the legality or illegality of his actions, Bernie's selfish acts betrayed KGO.

He has sullied the Station's reputation. Bernie has also betrayed the Catholic church. His current actions [which some people on here don't think are that big a deal] resurrected [pun intended] in the public's mind the stories about the Church being filled with child molesters and pedophiles. In other words, the Church did not need Bernie reminding the public about its problems of the past.

His actions also resurrected the 1970s allegations of misconduct and crimes, committed when he was a priest.

Those events were dead and buried, now in 2008 they have resurfaced. He has further betrayed the Church by breach of whatever terms of a deal he cut with the Church back then [most likely "we won't pursue this further if you leave the priesthood. And get help Bernie."]

In law we lawyers have an obligation to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. What that means is that even if we are not doing anything wrong, we are still supposed to avoid conduct that looks improper, even if the conduct is technically legal.

Regardless of the "correctness" of anything Bernie has done [e.g., nothing illegal about sex chat between consenting adults], the fact is his actions call into question everyone who has associated with Bernie: KGO, the Church, priests, friends and supporters.

Bottom line: For self-gratification and personal pleasure he ran roughshod over lots of innocent people and entities [KGO and the Church.]

He also appears not to care who he hurts when trying to salvage his own hide. For example, how dare he accuse that one innocent girl who he molested and the priest who knew him back then, of both being liars. [When Noyes interviewed both, they were obviously the ones telling the truth, not Bernie.]

If I was Judge Walker I would take into account when sentencing Bernie that he is NOT doing what he said in his plea deal, he is NOT accepting responsibility for his actions.

Character is a factor the Judge can take into account when sentencing Bernie. Seems to me that Bernie is not showing remorse and he is violating the terms of his deal by badmouthing that innocent girl [in 2008 an innocent woman] and the priests.

It startles the mind to think in 2008, just this week, that Bernie would have his lawyer tell the media that the 1970s charges were false.

I have heard Bernie's lawyer is a decent fellow. So I am dismayed he would tell the public that the girls and priests are liars. That speaks to the lawyer's character or competence. If Bernie told me that the 70s charges were false, I sure would not believe him and I would tell him that I am not going to go on TV and say the 1970s charges were false. At best I would say no comment.

I digress. Sorry.

[Wyatt Burp]

Gio33, better go stand guard at the Golden Gate Bridge. It would be great if Bernie jumped, but the tsunammi his fat lard ass would cause would wipe out the Bay Area. This really concerns me since I have relatives in San Leandro. Plus, all the K-Y Jelly in S.F. would cause an oil slick that would make that last spill look like nothin'. And they'd just blame it on Bush anyway like they did in New Orleans where those retards were too stupid to put down thier crack pipes and get to higher ground. So think about the gulls and fishes, Giovanni33! Only you can save us!!

[Wyatt Burp]

Gio33, You wondered what it's going to be like for the baby raper in prison. The prison is already stocking up on Jenny Craig meals and all the other inmates are getting bags of flour so they can roll Bernie in it to find the wet spot before they turn him into Ned Beatty in Deliverance. Bernie will also get the whole McCaully Culkin video collection and a big supply of vasoline. They'e also giving him a crucifice, replacing the bottom part with a rubber casting of his son's, well, you know where I'm going with that one. So, Giobernie69, I'm sure he'll be OK. PS fellow wiseasses, Giovanni33 is a chick! She's not a "dude" like someone mentioned before. Can't you tell?

[sfnative]

"On air talent is there for one reason, so KGO can sell ads, produce revenues, pay salaries and run a profitable business. The guy would be a financial loss to the station."

Excellent point. (About the ad revenue) I was thinking additionally about the fact that were he to return, the show would be stalled: there would be little interest/ entertainment value since about 50% of the callers, minimum, would call in about him & his actions, not about the topic he was introducing. The show would essentially be dominated by obscenities & provocative comments from callers, with BW muting them every few seconds. Also, in line with MichaelSF's excellent summary about responsibility & public image, there would be an outcry from most of the public except diehard fans. Listeners would interpret a re-hiring as a reward, & would boycott the station. No high-profile operation like that wants to have a free-fall in public image -- both for ad revenue & for general PR reasons.

As to the betrayal (his keeping quiet for 3 years, while colleagues wondered out loud, in alarm, at the level of his anger & dark moods), I look upon this as an economic betrayal as well. I listened closely most nights during those 3 years, not always liking what I heard, but fascinated by what I observed as an utter failure to prepare a single new topic. For three years he did not earn his salary, i.m.o. For 3 years he dragged out tired topics and repeated himself about 9 times more than usual. Mostly he did one of 3 things: Read verbatim from salon.com, rehash his feelings about the war (with zero new opinion or fact), or inappropriately discuss aspects of his family in a way that did not invite general discussion or lead into common issues of interest. On the Sunday morning show, it was even worse, if that was possible. Absolutely NOTHING topical or theological. Zero, zilch. Absolutely every moment, *not* during the T-giving drive, btw, was about homelessness, homelessness, homelessness, about how everyone rich was evil, about how the only virtue was found in those of poverty. (Hmmm: Was he thinking about his own future?) He shamelessly relied on Amanda in Chicago to provide 10 minutes of intellectual substance to the very program he himself inaugurated & for these 3 years refused to contribute to. At my own work, I could get away with that for maybe half a day before being called on the carpet by my boss. I.m.o., KGO was *way* too lenient on him, actually. Obviously his work behavior was a reflection of his fatalism about his future; no need to invest in something that might extinguish. Nevertheless, it was a major dishonesty to his bosses & disrespect to his listeners,while collecting 3 years of salary. (KGO didn't raid his house & take his computers! It was not KGO that deserved his selfishness.)

Long-winded way of my saying, MichaelSF, that I agree with you that he should have been upfront with KGO management that December. (I just wanted to add some other observations as well.)

[Wyatt Burp]

HEY MICHAELSF. I THINK I FOUND GIOVANNI33'S PICTURE ON ANOTHER WEB PAGE! I'm a computer retard so I might be wrong. Google Giovanni33 then the one with the site www.plentyoffish.com. If it is is I was completely off base about Gio33 being a chick. But I wasn't too far off, obviously. I don
t want to seem too obsessive here but this person trips me out! What does a person that thinks this twisted look like?! MikeSF, write back and tell me if I'm right. Your thoughts are always great to hear.

[Wyatt Burp]

Yep! I think I got this right about Gio33 on that other web page. It's a dating site and after I read this guy's info, it adds up. So, fellow wiseass opinionites, am I full of s--t or what? Again, Google Giovanni33, web page is www.plentyoffishes.com. About the 3rd or 4th one down.

[johndoe]

ABC, you are to be commended for your work on this case, exposing a dangerous child predator. However, I do question your motives. For several decades, you provided this man of the Left a platform, 3-hours a night and Godtalk, to attack America, conservatives and the Church. Only now, when it is prudent and convenient for ABC corporate to disavow Mr. Ward do you "discover" that there has been evidence of his deviant sexual proclivity for decades. I-Team proudly lives up to it's name. Unfortunately, it does so at the behest of of it' corporate masters decades after the fact when business considerations dictate that Mr. Ward, a long time ABC employee, must be disavowed.
Some might think that your actions are a tad late.

[8NLEG8R]

Was Bernie Mac particularly hated by KGO's news staff when he worked for the station? All this past week, when I've gone to my home page, there have been 2 or 3 stories about him which have stayed at the top while other, less juicy items gradually scroll away. Sure, the guy IS accused of the most heinous crime in America today, but a quick check of KTVU's and KRON's news websites shows far less coverage of his case than you're devoting. Are you folks on a vendetta? Or did someone in power at KGO decree a policy of trying to distance the station from a now former employee who involved himself in a shocking and disgusting scandal? No defense of Mac's behavior is intended here -- anyone proven to have sexually abused a child deserves prosecution to the fullest. If Mac is found guilty, he'll wind up in prison where fellow inmates often impose far greater punishment on child molesters than a court does with a lengthy sentence. Until the jury decides his fate, KGO's dogged pursuit of the story seems a misplaced use many of its considerable resources -- at the very least a case of questionable journalistic ethics and, at worst, an abuse of your power as reporters. (DISCLAIMER: I honestly don't know internet technology -- do the iTeam blogs go back to the top of the news stories whenever somebody adds a comment? I hope I'm not helping you keep this story alive by commenting on it.)

[Quaks like a duck]

Giovanni33 seems to have gotten himself into lots of trouble on other sites (like Wikipedia)as well. He lives in Daly City and judging by all the stroking he is doing on this blog, he probably hung out with Bernie in that theater in San Mateo or perhaps he met him in as a young boy.

Long term victims tend to protect the people that abuse them. You see it all the time with battered women and molestation victims. The healing begins when you ask for help.

[sfnative]

On Karel's show tonight, it was revealed that BW has considered suicide recently.

[Suicide/Karel?]

How could you stomach listening to Karel and all his BS. I caught him for about 10 minutes this evening when he was talking about his aversion for people in caskets.??? I finally told my wife I've got to switch channels. She said I wondered how long it was going to take you to switch the channel.

Talk about suicided - try listening to Karel for any length of time. Yeaacchh!

As for Bernie, I hope that he doesn't stoop to that. That would really add further injury to his family who have already sustained too much pain.

[kurt]

Bernies bullying and bad karma are coming back to bite him in the ass. He speculated on air that Polly Klaas's killer, Richard Allen Davis, was telling the truth when he said Polly was sexually abused by her father Mark. Maybe Bernie has sexual feelings about raping or killing his own kids, and that is why he gave Richard Allen Davis the benefit of the doubt. If Bernies other goal was to stick it to a supporter of the death penalty, who just lost his daughter, it shows that he is a miserable sadist too.

[sfnative]

"How could you stomach listening to Karel and all his BS."

Morbid curiosity. I'll admit it's not healthy. However, I did tune out, turn it off during the caskets bit. (On any given night I can only stomach Karel in extremely short sections. The illogic is often too much to bear.) However, in his defense he does acknowledge that the heart of it is BW getting carried away with fantasies, not with writing books. I doubt that even he believes that any more.

"As for Bernie, I hope that he doesn't stoop to that. That would really add further injury to his family who have already sustained too much pain."

Agreed. It would be a further act of cruelty, a further victimization of them, although I must say if i were his wife I would feel more than a little ambivalent about staying with him at this point.

[Giovanni33]

Actually I did meet Bernie way back in High School. He was covering a protest I was involved with in Berkeley. I didn't get a chance to talk to him then, but I was a fan of his show, and was happy to see him those many years ago. I hope to get a chance to see him again before he is sent away, rather unjustly, I think. I hope he gets out soon on good behavior, and I wish him the best of luck. I'm sure given how much good Bernie has given to the community, he will get their support, notwithstanding, the typical reactionaries. What was that saying by Mao, to be attacked by the by enemy is a good thing? So right-wingers will attack him and that continues to prove Bernie has indeed done much good, despite some serious misjudgments and flaws in other matters.

[sfnative]

Giovanni, you must live in a black-and-white world. It's possible to criticize a person's actions without criticizing their politics, and vice-versa. I wonder if you assume every critical remark of him on these blogs is a political statement or position: it's not.

In any case, you admit to being a Maoist, so folks,consider the source.

[Giovanni33]

sfnative,

Yes, of course it's possible. That is quite elementary. But, on the other hand, surely you must realize that people are coming out to attack Bernie because of his politics, and as a result of their own hatred of Bernie's progressive thinking. This is evident in much of the blatant personal attacks on Bernie that loaded with reactionary conservative epithets thrown about without shame. And, these are just the blatant examples. Do you think that we don't have right-wingers attacking Bernie with glee but hiding their long standing contempt under the banner of their concern for children and Bernie's legal misconduct? Lets not be naive.

Now, this is not to say there can't be apolitical, nuetral and valid criticism against Mr. Ward. Of course, we have good people who interpret the evidence and condemn Bernie. But, I'm speaking about the vile attacks coming from those on the far right who are out for blood. And, what do I say about them and their attacks? It only proves Bernie has done much good. Otherwise they wouldn't attack him so. I'm tempted to quote another thinker, but I guess that would lead you to conclude conflicting "sism" about my thinking. Lets not be so simplistic, shall we? And you say I live in a black-and-white world?

[Quacks like a duck]

Giovanni33, BW is a self admitted distributor of 15 to 150 pieces of child pornography. It doesn't get anymore black and white then that.

[MichaelSF]

Yes, that's Giovanni33. The guy in the pic looks like a guy named "John" [Giovanni is Italian for John] and he looks about 33 years old.

He is active on Wikipedia and Wikichat.

Only thing I find interesting is that I previously commented that some people are perhaps defending their own conduct when sticking up for Bernie.

What I find disturbing on that Plenty Of Fish site is where Gio33 says:

"I do appreicate [sic] those who can deviate from social norms, people who delve beneath surfaces of things and question "normal."

That seems to be speaking the code, IMHO. And now that Gio33's chat herein in Google, who knows whose radar he is on.

[MichaelSF]

My post on another thread herein:
___________________

Rowdy, the police report has been out for a time now. But, it is what the FBI for years.

Those questions you pose are precisely why the Government indicted Bernie. In other words, they knew a lot more than what the public knew, even after the indictment.

But many of us had been saying there was more to the story than just one picture and some innocent/legal sex chat. In fact I had said the Government does not indict a regionally famous person for just one pic or going into chat rooms.

So [sadly for the victims] we were right and Bernie's zealot "Kool-Aid drinking" supporters were wrong.

Turns out, as you note, there was no book. Instead Bernie admits to sending out at least 150 pictures [and we all know human behavior. If he is admitting to 150 the real number is probably in the thousands. Sidenote: the court and law enforcement know this. Defendants never admit to the total of their wrongdoing.]

More truths: Mr. Noyes' excellent ITeam investigation brought back to the forefront the accuracy of the child molestation acts Bernie committed 30 years ago.

That police report is the most disgusting thing I have ever read. And I have seen a lot. E.g., When I was a prosecutor during the XMAS holidays I was dealing with murders and sexual molestation of children.

Even though I consider myself hardened I got about 3/4ths through the chat and stopped reading it I was so disgusted.

Bernie deserves severe punishment and society needs protection. And he seems beyond redemption or rehabilitation.

Who knows how many victims of Bernie's acts are out there [victims too afraid or embarrassed to come forward. I mean, look at the way Bernie and his lawyer attacked that then-teenage victim Mr. Noyes interviewed. Bernie was sending out the message to anyone who dares come forward that they will be in for the same.]

Should BW not be locked up for a long time who knows the potential victims that would be out there. The reality is: criminal sexual deviants rarely can be rehabilitated. The only solution is to protect society from them. For sure, Bernie had his chance. He was not prosecuted 30 years ago for his crimes, he got a pass, a chance to live a normal life.

But look what he has done with that second chance. [I assume that even the most naive of Bernie's supports are not so stupid to believe that the only criminal acts Bernie committed were in the 1970s and in 2005 and that he has been an angel in between.]

The best thing that can happen now is for Bernie to be put away for good and for his supporters to acknowledge they were wrong [yes, that includes Karel.]

In fact, I think it almost criminal for anyone to be sending out signals to children, teens, and easily influenced adults that Bernie is a fine person, that it's a government conspiracy and that what Bernie did was not all that bad, so he should be given a break.

Maybe sounds a bit dramatic, but to me anyone defending Bernie at this point, knowing what we know, is almost akin to defending Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer or the 9/11 attacks.

Sidenote: I bet Karel is doing everything he can to delete his initial radio shows from the KGO archives, the ones where he so strongly defended Bernie.

My prediction is that Karel's behavior probably killed his chances to get the coveted 10-1 slot [Bernie's old slot.] So there was a cost to supporting his friend and railing against those who said there was more to the story than any of us knew at the time.

[sfnative]

MichaelSF,
Some good points there.
On Friday eve I think, Christine Craft, while struggling for words to her audience & relaying her own similar struggle to Bernie, described him with the Freudian term "polymorphous perverse." Whether she meant it to include more than just sexual proclivities, I think it's incidentally a descriptor for his world view -- with regard to boundaries in general, his resistance to society's conventions & definitely to authority in general. Before I later read that someone from his former religious order revealed that he had 'an authority problem,' that fact had been quite obvious to me, for years, on his show. Sometimes (not always) these behaviors & outlooks go hand in hand.

Many years ago I used to think that Bernie was just very immature. (He is also that.) The on-air very childish temper tantrums, 'foot-stomping' when any issues of authority came up -- be it a school, gov't, religion -- was just very adolescent & comprehensive. ("You can't tell me what to do!" kind of message). It was in marked contrast to the adult outlooks of many other hosts. But I think Christine's insight is more accurate.

Regarding MichaelSF's points about supporters overlooking the 'elephant in the room' while distracted by the camel in the corner, it is absolutely a characteristic of predators in general -- or those crossing sexual taboos -- to position themselves as pillars of the community as a compensating strategy. It's a way to supposedly earn legitimacy & stature, so that one is in a different (untouchable) category when it comes to prosecution and/or rejection. It's the double or parallel life strategy. Otherwise known as "the storefront strategy.") There might be legitimate & laudatory things happening at that store, which becomes the persona for lots of other things happening as well.

Finally, on the earlier allegations during the priesthood:
It was a very common behavior among priests of that time period & before, to forcibly French kiss adolescent girls. It happened to me once. The priest also declared he was in love with me & wanted me to be his 'escape route' from the priesthood. I never came forward, shocked though I was, because it was a one-time incident & because I was leaving that environment anyway. I later found out that other females my age had similar experiences.

The other characteristic of those acting out sexuality on under-age people is to demand intimate information from them (sex lives, what they look like naked, what kind of underwear they purchase, etc.) A teacher in my jr.high school used to do that to us 8th-grade girls. (He was later convicted of acts upon minor girls, many many years later.) So that was the other piece of info that came out about Bernie recently.

[Tom in Dallas]

Bernie Ward is, size aside, one of the biggest hypocrites on this earth. He spoke for years of his dislike of the Catholic Church, and now we learn that this is likely due to the fact that the Church was not willing to put up with his sexual interest in children.

BW's supporters are either blind in their following of liberalism, or pedophiles themselves.

I cannot see how anyone, liberal or conservative, is willing to stick up for an admitted pedophile. Liberals are generally overtly concerned about children and the powerless; while conservatives won't put up with much in the way of sexual deviancy.

I for one, hope BW gets thrown into the general population at San Quentin. Maybe after being someone's bitch for a few years, he might be less interested in doing this to children.

[sfnative]

Tom, San Quentin is a state prison. Bernie's not going there. He'll go to a federal penitentiary. Dean Johnson on KGO said a few days ago that his understanding was that it would be a Low Security facility as opposed to a Minimum Security facility. I've heard a number of theories on where he'll end up -- one being in Northern CA, another being as far away as Massachusetts, but it will definitely not be any State facility like San Quentin.

[MichaelSF]

See my detailed post on where he might do time.

Most likely at the "Herlong Camp" in northern California [near Susanville?] I think it's the only men's low security facility the feds have in Nor Cal. Don't know for sure, I have not kept up with fed prisons.

In any event, he is not going to a "penitentiary." Those are the Fed's max security prisons.

Judges usually don't care where defendants are sent. But prosecutors use where-one-will-do-time as a bargaining chip to get a guilty plea.

When one is going behind bars it makes a BIG DIFFERENCE which facility he or she will be going to.

For example, if the Dept. of Corrections [state] or Bureau of Prisons [fed] decides Bernie will NOT get preferential segregation and have to mix in with the "general population" [most likely] that can be a devastating decision by prison administration.

This is because being put into the general population can be a death sentence to the inmate. Somebody, somewhere is going to get to the inmate and kill or hurt him.

Due to prison overcrowding getting a private cell, so to speak, is very difficult. So the next best thing is for his lawyer to push for going to the "nicest" facility possible, meaning the lowest security designation where the general population is not comprised of mean, violent criminals. [Any of you who have walked the general population grounds of San Quentin State Prison like I have know about which I speak. I actually thought I might be taken hostage. Convicts were looking at me like "Yum fresh meat."]

Example of the perils of being put in the general population:

When Jeffrey Dahmer the serial killer got sent to the general prison population lawyers said that was akin to a death sentence. They were right. He had his head beat in [killed] with a pipe by a fellow inmate.

Yes, Bernie wants to go to where accountants, lawyers, former priests and tax evaders are doing time. :)

See you all, have to go to moms for Mother's Day. How pleasant. Won't be discussing Bernie's case. Talk about rude dinner conversation.

[sfnative]

Thanks for the correction about the penitentiary label, MichaelSF.

Never heard of this Herlong place.

I hope he is not mixed in with violent types. I think his family deserves him to be alive long enough for him to face himself & come out a mentally more healthy individual. Others have done so.

[MichaelSF]

Good old Wikipedia.

Herlong is a medium security facility, so I may be wrong. But they have a low security facility next to it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Correctional_Institution%2C_Herlong

[federalofficer08]

For all you Bernie Ward supporters, here is some sad news. Bernadette will not be serving time in a minimum facility. Those facilities are only for "White Collar" crimes. Bernadette's crime is classified as serious/violent in the Federal prison system. He may choose to walk the mainline also known as general population until he gets "shanked" and is placed in protective custody with other child molesters and snitches. Even "snitches" don't like sex offenders so he may not last there too long. I know because I work in the the Federal system. Bernadette will most likely belong to another inmate in a short time. One good look at him and anyone can tell he is a sex offender so he will not last long where ever he goes. Remember folks, prison is for punishment and the experience there should be humiliating and as bad as it can get. Bernadette has not only deserving of a painful stay but has very much earned it. Animals like this cannot be rehabilitated. He will re-offend and be back in the system again. I know, I have benn doing this for 24 years.

[Charlie]

I'm beginning to wonder if MichaelSF doesn't have "beefcake" pics of "Hanging" Judge Walker on his bedroom wall!!

[ConservativeJim]

BW is fortunate that he's not going to a state prison where his remaining time on earth would be very short indeed. I feel so sorry for his family who are victims in all this. And I even feel sorry for BW, believe it or not. I think he has an illness that hopefully he'll get treatment for. The bible and God tell us that everyone has the possibility of redemption and I will pray for his.

I think BW knows what he had and lost and why he lost it. As for his future, if he survives prison, the best thing for him would be to move far away and spend the rest of his life trying to un-do the harm he caused. This whole story is a tragedy from start to finish.

He needs to serve his time and make whatever amends he can to his family, friends and the victims of child porn.

And to those few who think he should go back on air, I think the BW Show should follow the Charles Manson hour. You people can't be serious about him going back on the radio?

As far as what he could do after his prison time is over? Unskilled labor is all I can imagine. With his conviction, almost anything I can think of is off the table.

[Giovanni33]

I think Bernie can still get a job at KGO. True, he does not have a public-facing position anymore, but he can work in the background doing investigative reporting stories to be reported by others. All news stations have such positions available. Bernie would be good at it.

[Charlie]

Yeah, sure "Bernieovanni!" Any story researched by that fat load of a pedophile would REALLY have a lot of credibilty!
btw..Saw your web page...Can you say "near-gay-creepy metrosexual?" I KNEW ya could! Any woman/man who'd even *contemplate* let you near their children should have their head examined!

[sfnative]

Certain parts of conservativeJim's post I liked, but particularly this paragraph:

"I think BW knows what he had and lost and why he lost it. As for his future, if he survives prison, the best thing for him would be to move far away and spend the rest of his life trying to un-do the harm he caused. This whole story is a tragedy from start to finish."

I also agree with the poster that he is virtually out of a professional future with significant earning power. While I myself previously thought that behind-the-scenes reporting would be an option, I now doubt that; would be very surprised if KGO agreed to that. That's because word always leaks out about things like this; it would become public & there would be enough of an outcry from enough quarters. KGO has been through enough hell -- some of it only slightly brought on by themselves, as they admit they saw signs of illness of him for quite some time. I.m.o., they would have done better to insist on pre-prison rehabilitation as a condition of continued employment quite some time ago. Deep down inside most people know their own illnesses & weaknesses. That would include BW. If someone put boundaries (finally!) and conditions upon him, he would have had no choice but to comply.

Skilled labor's a possibility for the future, as is non-profit work in a compassionate agency that kept him out of contact with underage anyone. But I do agree that moving is the best option, preferably for his sake, out of the country.

[KLau]

Giovanni 3:3........
Good gosh almighty you are one weird cookie.
Don't know what to make of you.
I don't think you are Bernie, but its hard to imagine anyone else being even 2% as delusional as you are.
Seriously, you have one of the strangest impressions of reality I've ever come across.

I can either assume its for real or that you are just doing it for some strange enjoyment by causing the other readers answer your outlandish posts.
I have to go with the "put-on" choice. Far more likely you are just pulling everyone's leg than that you actually believe such.
Putting it into percentages, I'd say its about 90% chance you are pulling legs and 10% chance you actually believe what you post.

Have fun......

BTW....whats with the John 3:3 thing? Biblical?
Are you a Christian?
Now don't lie, fess up...

[Giovanni33]

Charlie,

You should review some of the common logical fallacies, in particular I note your frequent use of the ad hominen fallacy. These glaring logical flaws render your argument invalid.

About children, you might be happy to know I used to be a teacher, and worked with many small children. I'd still be teaching today if they paid better. So your baseless attacks are indicative of your own inablity to engage with the actual merits of an argument. And, based on this, I'd hate for any parents to let kids around you! They might pick up your bad examples of very poor thinking, and we need smart, critical thinking kids so they can grow up to have sharp mental falculties like Bernie.

[sfnative]

BW may have "sharp mental faculties," but his practice was to under-utilize them. His intellectual laziness was very annoying to me, & again I'm surprised that KGO let him get away with so much undisciplined on-air monologuing for so long. He was educated in private institutions & did not lack the wherewithal to construct a tight argument, but rarely did so -- preferring a stream of consciousness approach instead. He had enormous opportunity to engage an intelligent audience, but more often than not, squandered that opportunity because he preferred polemics and ego over intellectual honesty.

[Charlie]

Hey Berniovanni...*I'M* not the one defending and kissing the A$$ of a convicted felon and PEDOPHILE! Methinks that, like Bernie's leaving the priesthood, there may be more to the story of why you're not teaching anymore than you're letting on! Oh, and my "ad hominems" don't change the fact that your singles profile is
CREEEEEEEPY! Me also thinks that parents would rather have their kids around me, one who DESPISES pedophiles, rather than one, like you, who SUPPORTS them! Any parents out there wanna weigh in? (btw...I'm a parent of SIX and they all seem to have turned out just fine!)

*** NOTE FROM DAN Thursday, May 14th: New blog posted with details of interview with Sex Fairy and the transcript of Bernie Ward's online chats with her. ***

[Giovanni33]

Many, many thanks to Dan Noyes and the I-Team for doing their investigative journalism and reporting on the many issues that surround Bernie Ward. While most media outlets have ignored or reported very little on these issues, Dan Noyes has been unrelenting in his reporting.

This story is certainly big for the bay area as it deals with someone who was formerly an icon in the bay area (to at least some) for twenty years.

Thanks Dan for not sweeping this story under the rug like so many other "journalists". And thanks again for your fine reporting.

[Giovanni33]

How did you post with my name? :)

[Cubit]

Looking the other way, while prisoners are subjected to sexual abuse is another black mark on our nation's record.

Punishment should not go beyond what is explicitly ruled on by the court.

[sfnative]

I certainly agree with that last post. I'll tell you, though, that a fall from grace for a public figure has much more serious, permanent consequences than for someone living in relative obscurity. I do not think he should be more punished than anyone else getting caught doing the same thing that is less well known. Howerver, the reality is that (1) there will be much less sympathy and much more anger if you are a local celebrity, and (2) if you have a high visibility factor --whether from own choosing or from the nature of your employment-- the full details of your offenses will be exposed.

There are thousands of people engaging in online chats of this nature every day, yet for almost all of them, no one else will know & no one else will care. He engaged in such high-risk behavior by combining an illicit activity with a legal activity -- to the point where *both* were exposed.

So, regarding his public role, What Was He Thinking? (It tells me, since he was at least smart, while controversial, that he allowed his impulses to override his knowledge AND WAS WILLING TO RISK EVERYTHING --i.e., his career, his family relationships, his previous friendships-- for the sake of immediate impulse gratification.)

Wow. What a choice.