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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News
Ex-prof pleads guilty
Ward could get 15-30 years in prison after guilty plea in child-porn case
Clint Cohen
Former Wharton professor Scott Ward pled guilty in federal court yesterday to producing child pornography for importation into the United States.
Ward, who has been held in custody since August, is scheduled for sentencing May 11.
His trial was expected to begin in Alexandria, Va., next Monday.
Ward's charge carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison, according to a press release issued by the U.S. District Attorney's Office in Virginia.
"Our children are at risk from predators not just in our state or in our country, but around the world," U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said in the press release. "This is a disturbing crime, and it is without borders."
Ward's lawyers did not return repeated calls for comment.
Philadelphia criminal attorney Patrick Artur, who is not involved in the case, said that Ward likely pled guilty because of the overwhelming evidence in the prosecution's favor.
Police reports indicate that, prior to Ward's arrest, customs officials had grown suspicious of his frequent trips to Thailand, a known destination for child-predator sex tourists.
When Ward - who had faced previous charges of sexual misconduct - arrived at Dulles International Airport on Aug. 27 from a trip to Brazil, a routine search revealed child pornography on his computer. Further examination turned up a digital camcorder and accompanying mini-DVDs that showed Ward engaged in sexual acts with an underaged boy.
"The facts seemed to be against him," he said.
Even if the defense had pushed forward with a not-guilty plea, Artur added, there would be little evidence to sustain Ward's case.
If the case had gone to trial, the defense might have attempted to prove the search of Ward's luggage by customs officials unlawful. But because those officials are not subject to normal search requirements, "search-and-seizure issues are out the window," Artur said.
Alternatively, he said, the defense might have argued that the other person in Ward's videos was not a child at all.
Ward, who has been held in custody since August, is scheduled for sentencing May 11.
His trial was expected to begin in Alexandria, Va., next Monday.
Ward's charge carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison, according to a press release issued by the U.S. District Attorney's Office in Virginia.
"Our children are at risk from predators not just in our state or in our country, but around the world," U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said in the press release. "This is a disturbing crime, and it is without borders."
Ward's lawyers did not return repeated calls for comment.
Philadelphia criminal attorney Patrick Artur, who is not involved in the case, said that Ward likely pled guilty because of the overwhelming evidence in the prosecution's favor.
Police reports indicate that, prior to Ward's arrest, customs officials had grown suspicious of his frequent trips to Thailand, a known destination for child-predator sex tourists.
When Ward - who had faced previous charges of sexual misconduct - arrived at Dulles International Airport on Aug. 27 from a trip to Brazil, a routine search revealed child pornography on his computer. Further examination turned up a digital camcorder and accompanying mini-DVDs that showed Ward engaged in sexual acts with an underaged boy.
"The facts seemed to be against him," he said.
Even if the defense had pushed forward with a not-guilty plea, Artur added, there would be little evidence to sustain Ward's case.
If the case had gone to trial, the defense might have attempted to prove the search of Ward's luggage by customs officials unlawful. But because those officials are not subject to normal search requirements, "search-and-seizure issues are out the window," Artur said.
Alternatively, he said, the defense might have argued that the other person in Ward's videos was not a child at all.
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Student
posted 2/21/07 @ 12:14 PM EST
For those that are interested in this sad case, philadelphia magazine published a huge spread on this, revealing all of the horrific details...most of which was never mentioned by the university. (Continued…)
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