Seven Years for Bernie Ward

Dr. Colleen Halloran headed straight for the cameras to blast the federal government after the judge gave her husband, former KGO Radio host Bernie Ward, seven years and three months in prison for distributing child pornography. You could almost hear echoes of Bernie Ward’s radio show in his wife’s statement: “This whole proceeding has been crushing with an anvil. The justice department sure hasn't got any of the real terrorists out there, they got us into a war that was based on a lie, they can't control the economy, they can't control gas prices, but oh boy they got that really dangerous criminal Bernie Ward off the street and have destroyed his family, I thank you all very much.”

In court, Judge Vaughn Walker said several points troubled him about Ward’s actions – Ward comes from a strong religious background; he told a probation officer he was abused as a youngster from the fifth to seventh grades; he went on to become a priest and had a radio show “God Talk” that dealt with religious issues; as a reporter, Ward investigated child abuse committed by Catholic priests. Judge Walker said that because of his background, Ward should have understood the devastating impact of child porn and should have sought help “confronting this predilection”.

The judge was also troubled by the images themselves – 100 pictures found on Ward’s AOL e-mail, in the read and sent folders. Ward also belonged to a list group that traded child porn; he sent ten images to different individuals. These were not naked pictures of fourteen or fifteen year old girls. Prosecutor Steve Grocki said they were pre-pubescent girls as young as two or three years of age, engaged in full sexual contact with adult males, including bondage and sado-masochism: "He traded in the currency of human suffering, of childrens' suffering." Judge Walker revealed in court that he viewed some of the images himself, at the request of the prosecution. The judge was also concerned about the content of instant messages sent to Sexfairy, the woman from Oakdale to whom Ward e-mailed an image of child porn. The judge said he was troubled that a parent would write about sexual activity with his own children, even if it was just fantasy.

Judge Walker said he’s “not convinced sending him to prison is the best way to deal with an individual with these problems”, that “very little good has come out of all this”. Still, the judge sentenced Bernie Ward to 87 months in federal prison. As I said on the air today, under federal guidelines, Ward has to serve 85-percent of his sentence. The earliest he’ll get out is October 2014. That is, after he surrenders to federal marshals tomorrow. His deadline is noon.

ABC 7 Legal Analyst Dean Johnson says Ward should not be heading for a “club fed”; that he’s now a sex offender, who at best will serve his time in a low security FCI or federal correctional institution.

Comments

[Yomamatoo]

The Blog management is taking down posts! Censorship is their tool on this blog. How long will this post last.

Bernie is in the Santa Rita jail until Tuesday, when he is moved to Lompoc Sodomy and Country Club.

*** NOTE FROM DAN NOYES: Take a deep breath, Yomamatoo. We only edit comments that violate the blog's rules. This post will not be taken down. ***

[Dan Stubbs]

I have read some reviews on the Santa Rita jail in Dublin. Seems there are lots of gangs and anal avengers. Bernie has always been a good bottom, so his 30-60 stay at Santa Rita is a nice intro to prison life. I have a pal who did 3 days in there awhile back and he is still trying to wash off the funk. The pant load BW is now paying the price. One good thing for him though, he doesn't have to look at the butt ugly gross wife of his for awhile.

[Jenn]

Bernie is paying for what he did. Now how about going after the sick person who put the child porn on the web, so many Bernies could look at it. Lets go after them!

[anonymous]

If I didn't know the Ward family and had read about this case in the news, I most likely would have had a very similar reaction to the ones expressed in the comments above. What Bernie did no doubt was wrong, but just for a second imagine the effect the media has had on this poor family. Not only do they have to cope with losing a father and husband, they have to do it in a completely public manner. True, Bernie has been a public figure and so perhaps the public feel they have a claim to his story. Fine, whatever. His wife and children on the other hand never asked for this and unkind comments about them are not only uncalled for, they're cruel and in bad taste.

[Mark D]

Someone needs to tell his wife it was Bernie no one else who destroyed his family. read my former post on it http://mark24609.blogspot.com/2008/05/bernie-ward-blowhard-of-left.html

[Dave]

I think the punishment is way out of line with the crime. If he had the children pose for these pictures or recruited children to engage in sexual activity, I would feel differently. If we can't distinguish between people who disseminate child pornography non-commercially from those who commit the primary act, then our sense of justice is way out of wack.

In the state system, our prisons are overcrowded.

We are now getting the blow-back from our super-punitive propositions in the last 20 years. The California Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation (an Orwellian moniker, a joke to be sure) is in federal receivership because the prison are overcrowded and fail to deliver constitutionally required medical and mental health care. For those of you who don't care about that, think about the $8 billion it will cost to clean up the mess and then think about the state's $15 billion deficit.

Thank you fellow Californians who voted your outrage at some particular high profile case du jour or another rather think about what you were doing.

There are better ways than prison to deal with people like Bernie Ward, a sentiment which the sentencing judge himself expressed.

[Red Dog East]

I too read about the Santa Rita Alameda County Jail. Sending Bernie Ward to that horror house for 30-60 days (which may end up being at least double that period)surely goes against Judge Walker's intent when sentencing Ward to minimum security Lompoc prison.

"Anal avengers"? I am puzzled by how many righteous Christians hope and desire that Ward be raped in prison as punishment. What perverts you are!

Prison rape should never be allowed, and the perverts that commit this heinous crime should be put in the hole or have their sentences doubled and put on bread and water.

No other civilized nation allows this prison crime to run rabid, let alone condones it. No other country's citizens would allow it.

Here in Japan, prisoners have their own small cells and are subject to the very harsh supervision and discipline of Japanese guards. But there is virtually no rape. Prison authorities would not allow it. The Japanese public would be appalled. So what is it about you American public "anal avenger" cheerleaders who seem to salavitate at the idea of Ward being raped?

You folks are far more perverted than him, IMO.

[Jack Armstrong]

Bernie is trash. He should have been jailed for the anti american crap he spewed. Michael Savage is loving this...he's trashing this pedofile every day on over 400 stations.

[twain hart]

Agree, Bernie is a complete rectum...his wife as well. They are both pathetic throwbacks to the 60's...total losers, and the city of San Francisco sucks too. Its full of sick people like Bernie. America needs to know the city let a child molesting group (NAMBLA) meet in it public library. San Fran Freak Show is disgusting. Its a city of degenerates.

[calcynic]

This guy was my #1 favorite talk show host. He screwed up about as bad as a person can without directly killing someone. He's where he belongs for as long as should be.
His wife reacted as many spouses do...she stood by her husband. Whether it's denial or loyalty, who knows. She's got 7 years to sit down and sift thru this mess, and I wish her peace.
All the frothing at the mouth "Ward haters", who seek the ruination of his wife sorta have their own disease...bloodlust. I've seen "arrest Coleen Halloran', "don't use Dr Halloran as your pediatrician", "butt ugly wife", etc. The only thing this woman did wrong was to marry an icky, sicko creep, as I'm sure some of you bloggers may have done once or twice in your lives.
If her life and practice are destroyed, who's next in your crosshairs, his kids? Lay off...this chapter is over. Let him rot for his 7 years...he'll probably be squeegieing windshields at Market and Post after he gets out.

[Dan Stubbs]

I hear ole Bernie got slapped in the mug at dinner last night at Santa Rita. He brought up some political crap and got jammed by some southern mexicans. He better keep his fat face shut. He also got his first job in jail, he is chewing skid marks out of underwear in the jail laundry.

[Charlie]

Bye BYE Bernie! ROFLMFAO!

Here's his new "bio" straight from Santa Rita!

*********

Inmate Detail Custody Information
Name PFN Sex Race Occupation DOB Eye Color Hair Color Height Weight
WARD, BERNARD VINCENT ULN160 M WHITE 04/05/1951 BLUE BROWN 5'11" 245

Arrest Charge(s)
Date Time Location City Code Description
US 18USC2252 F

08/29/2008 12:00 PM SRJ DUBLIN
Event Report Number
8349077
Booking
Date Time Booking Type Holding Facility
08/29/2008 06:44 PM ENROUTE SANTA RITA JAIL
Docket Bail Type Bail Amount Next Hearing(s)
90569111 NOT CODED NO BAIL

[Charlie]

Bye BYE Bernie! ROFLMFAO!

Here's his new "bio" straight from Santa Rita! ENJOY!!!

*********

Inmate Detail Custody Information
Name PFN Sex Race Occupation DOB Eye Color Hair Color Height Weight
WARD, BERNARD VINCENT ULN160 M WHITE 04/05/1951 BLUE BROWN 5'11" 245

Arrest Charge(s)
Date Time Location City Code Description
US 18USC2252 F

08/29/2008 12:00 PM SRJ DUBLIN
Event Report Number
8349077
Booking
Date Time Booking Type Holding Facility
08/29/2008 06:44 PM ENROUTE SANTA RITA JAIL
Docket Bail Type Bail Amount Next Hearing(s)
90569111 NOT CODED NO BAIL

[Mr. Common Sense]

As an animal species on this planet, it is a natural instinct to want to defend yourself, have pride in who you are, and to preserve your culture. Bernie Ward spent many years preaching against these basic commonsense principles of existence. His deep hatred for police and family has to be a result of extreme mental illness. Never trust anyone who doesn't have a commonsense gene. I'm glad his wife's name is being publicized. I hope she loses her practice.

[Wyatt Burp]

Hey, Red Dog East! I hope Bernie gets gang raped in prison! I'm not a christian, but by S.F. standards I'm deffinatly a pervert. Since I'm against kiddie porn and dissaprove of guys bending their buddies over a park bench in Golden Gate Park in front of little kids which I'm sure happens all the time, I'm surely a pervert in your eyes.You and your fat baby raping hero obviously think this behavior is just fine! A-hole. By the way. How would a Japanese convict even notice he was being raped? Aren't all you guys over there hung like mice?

[Yomamatoo]

The sad tale of Bernie Ward. He is now doing his time, 30 to 60 days in Santa Rita jail will be the worst of his punishment. Then it is off to Lompoc country club. No bars, no fences and no confined spaces. Lots of time to read, relax, gain weight, feel sorry for yourself, write letters, books, watch TV, eat, sleep, take long showers, get your rump pumped whenever you feel like it. No payments, no responsibilities, no traffic jams NO FREEDOM! Good bye ol Uncle Bernie, you will now be officially forgotten. Just a skid mark in San Francisco history, so long, adieu, aloha, ciao.

[Professor Pat]

Maybe Uncle Bernie can work as a P.A. after his release from prison in 2015...(P.A. = pediatrician's assistant)...I'm sure his Egyptian wife (living in the land of denial) could use the help...

[TheIronyOfDenial]

Like many others I was completely shocked to hear Dr. Halloran's comments after Bernie was sentenced. She's already had almost 2 years to come to terms with what her husband did and to do the right thing for herself and her children. But what does she do? She digs her head in the sand and determines that the government is at fault and the reason for BW going to prison. HUH!!??
Wake up, Dr. H! Your husband is a very sick man and deserves every bit of the sentencing he received. Read the transcrips! That's your children he's fantasizing about! And she's a pediatrician!? Unbelievable!

[sfnative]

Boy, I can't agree more with the above post. And I'm actually quite surprised at his wife's public statements -- while I'm not surprised that any spouse might be in denial & be inclined to defend out of loyalty. But I wouldn't have stood in front of a microphone. She sounded as if she actually believed the nonsense she was spouting. I agree that the behavior is esp. odd given the projection onto the children by BW. It doesn't matter that he probably never acted on those fantasies. It matters that he violated that sacred distance between parent & child, & someone in that household should have been the protector & defender -- if not he, then she. It also speaks to a warped sense of priorities in the whole family, when public statements about hypothetical political conspiracies become more important than the personal violations he committed, & which have very public ramifications for his family & his relationships therein. They all seem to be rationalizing that political beliefs are more important than personal behavior, no matter how despicable the behavior.

[Professor Pat]

Anybody want to hazard a guess as to what Bernie will do when he's released from prison 7 years from now? He'll be in his early to mid sixties, right? He's a good fundraiser...maybe a job raising money for NAMBLA?

[sfnative]

I think it's pretty logical what he will do: go back to his family, who clearly support him morally & thus will support him financially. Unlike most other prisoners, he will not be homeless, not be without financial support. He will have 7 long years in prison to think about how he will reinvent himself. Unless local broadcasters are completely nuts, he has no future in local Bay Area broadcasting. I actually would not be surprised if he moved. First of all, he will find it hard to find a non-hostile neighborhood, as he will be a registered sex offender. Thus, he may not be able to remain in the family home. Bur since his family has absolutely no problem with his past behavior, & the consequences he has brought on them, I think they'll continue to sacrifice their own needs for his. His wife's business is portable: she can take it anywhere, even though it would mean a new start for her. There are also alternative arrangements they could make: all kinds of creative ways of getting around the law. For example, she could keep her business in SF; he could technically have an residence address in some commutable town north of here, in an obscure semi-rural location, while spending most of his daytime in the family home in SF -- writing about politics, fundraising for favorite charities, whatever. I definitely think he'll write a book. He's really lucky he's going to Lompoc, where he'll have lots of freedom & opportunity to think about the future, as well as to write.

[Wyatt Burp]

When he gets out of prison, Bernie will run over to Ray Taliaferro's house so they can 69 each other like they used to do.

[Yomamatoo]

When and if BW gets out of the joint, he will just slither home, continue to claim innocense and government conspiracy, get fatter, have a massive cardiac and drop dead. Bernie is now in the dust bin of history, just a gross pant load that got what was coming to him. His wife is also a pant load, cursed to be butt ugly and doomed to always be the pervert Bernies misguided wife. As for the kids, I feel very sorry for them.

[David Stubbs]

I heard Bernie had a fit about the chow in Santa Rita Jail. Told everyone he was contacting his congressman and filing a lawsuit. He has been forced to eat protein bars that both look and taste like crap. He has also asked for more condoms as he is getting very popular with his cell mates.

[Yomamatoo]

Yeah, I hear he has changed his jail name from Bernie to Bernice. His buddies throw a sheet over his fat ass to watch movies on. I know he must be one wretched blob in his orange jump suit and that fat face sitting on his bunk - payback is a mo-fo Bernice!