Michigan Town Split on Child Pornography Charges

[groovedaddy]

MUSKEGON, Mich. — People in this economically pressed town near Lake Michigan are divided into two camps: Those who think Evan Emory should pay hard for what he did, and those who think he should be let off easy.

Mr. Emory, 21, an aspiring singer and songwriter, became a household name here last month when he edited a video to make it appear that elementary school children in a local classroom were listening to him sing a song with graphic sexual lyrics. He then showed the video in a nightclub and posted it on YouTube.

Tony Tague, the Muskegon County prosecutor, stands firmly in the first camp: He charged Mr. Emory with manufacturing and distributing child pornography, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and 25 years on the sex offender registry.

“It is a serious, a huge violation,” said Charles Willick, whose 6-year-old daughter was one of the students, all readily identifiable, in the video. “He crossed the line when he used children.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/us/08muskegon.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23

[ceile]

1. I don't see how this is even an issue.

The kids never heard the song, he wasn't singing to them, and they were never abused in any way. The kid made a stupid video. The parents might have cause for unauthorized use of the child's image, but pornography?! Please.

[PoliticAverse]

2. If anything it seems this should be in the realm of civil action not criminal. n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Redefining pornography once again-- and this time it isn't even close.

[provis99]

4. Definitely child porn.

If anime is child porn, this is child porn.

[varkam]

5. How is this child pornography? Please explain.

I'm not being snarky, but I'd really love to hear an explanation as to how this video is child pornography.

[alp227]

6. yet James O'Keefe doctors videos to knock down organizations and walks free?

Ugh, what kind of justice system do we have that lets the privileged (O'Keefe, Tom DeLay, Mark Ciavarella among some) have it easy? As far as I know Emory never even sang the song in front of any children at all he just used images of children in his music video. If that's child porn, then this Tyrone Biggums skit is too.