ELGIN, Ill. (AP) – A former Illinois lawmaker who traded in child pornography has registered as a sex offender. Keith Farnham of Elgin is now listed on the Illinois State Police sex offender site as a “sexual predator” who possessed child pornography of a victim less than 13 years of age.
The 67-year-old pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography in a federal courtroom in Chicago earlier this month. He faces up to 20 years in prison and remains under house arrest until his sentencing in March. Full Article
His lawyer is correct in describing it as a sickness. Pornagraphy addiction is a national problem and like any addiction, should be treated, and therapy has repeatedly shown to be successful. Viewing cp is part of that addiction in many cases. Now I am talking viewing, not trading or marketing. Courts should recognize the difference and try to help to curb this national epedemic. Criminalizing an addiction does nothing for the addict.
Ugh. What a waste of time and resources. Good luck reducing the number of first time sex offenses by going after all the non problems. Oh and yeah I hope the prosecutor feels good about possibly wasting tax payer money for the next twenty years.
Wow, 20 years for possession, what a waste of taxpayer money. He should have murdered and/or raped someone so he would have received less time in prison. And yes my statement is outrageous, but so is 20 years prison for looking at photos that are easily found on the internet for free. And why is it okay for my local bookstore, Amazon or eBay to sell “artistic” nude photography books by Jock Sturges or David Hamilton, but it’s considered obscene if the average non-famous person takes or possesses a similar picture?
I wonder how many sex offenders he threw the book at….