Child pornography charges filed against children's performer

The Associated Press

http://www.bnd.com/326/story/149150.html
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --A man who was a former minister and police officer, and who has worked as a clown, is in federal custody after being charged with possessing child pornography and traveling overseas to engage in sexual activities with a minor.

Amon Paul Carlock, 57, of Springfield was arrested Tuesday and was ordered held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday.

An investigation of Carlock's activities was sparked after his return on June 12 from the Philippines. Upon his arrival at San Francisco International Airport, Carlock told immigration and homeland security officers he had been working as a clown at the House of Joy orphanage in San Isidro.

The Philippines is a country considered to be high-risk for child sex tourism. Because Carlock had direct contact with children, the officers asked to look at Carlock's digital camera and his computer, according to U.S. Attorney Rodger Heaton. When they searched the computers, they allegedly found numerous pictures of nude boys.
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Carlock goes by the name of "Klutzo the Clown" and "Professor Paul the Magician" when he performs, according to the U.S. attorney's office. His web site claims Carlock is an ordained minister.

Federal authorities said Carlock spent more than 20 years in law enforcement.
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The dark side of The Simpsons? I know, it's Krusty the Clown.

That's pretty much the trifecta of professions that raise some suspicions in my mind. (Caveat: I'm actually fairly pro-cop, but there are a lot of people who go into law enforcement for the wrong reasons).

I'm sure they'll love his act...

A federal search warrant executed Sept. 28 at Carlock's Springfield residence turned up compact discs which contained movies depicting child pornography, according to authorities.

"This case reveals the disturbing truth that some adults will go to great lengths to sexually exploit children," said Elissa Brown of Immigration and Customs Enforcement....Carlock volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters for about two months before he came under investigation.

There has to be more to this story.

solo male travelers including business travelers are reporting on travel sites that they are being pulled aside and all images in their cameras and computers searched, if they have visited philipines and even more likely to be searched if they are visiting thailand

i read a post awhile back from a man who was detained, because of photos of his own chinese wife, after returning to the usa from thailand, fortunately, since it was his wife, he could easily prove that she was well above the legal age

for all i know, the guy in this news story is a real bad guy, but you are misunderstanding probable cause -- you don't have those protections at the airport or when passing through customs/immigration -- just by being there, you have consented to search including search of your digital data -- this is as you might imagine creating some concern for the business traveler who might have proprietary information on his laptop

anyway, based on the reported story, this guy agreed to the search, so they didn't even have to search his camera against his will

don't have digital data in your possession that you wouldn't want your grandma to see when you're crossing an international border is my advice

Krusty is just a drunk.
Big difference.

n/t

Turned around and changed the show and all the kids hated it.
Even had a hebrew version of Itchy and Scratchy.

n/t

Clowns!

...very, VERY bizarre....

...about people wanting to bring joy to a miserable world. However, predators realize that being a clown as a way to gain trust with children so they can exploit them.

Sadly, it's as simple as that.

PB

..

That's what it's called.

Every kid that visits Santa at the mall has to sit on his lap.
Now that freaks me out.

I don't dress as a clown, but I have a side business where I perform magic and make balloon animals - mainly for kids although I do get the opportunity to perform close-up magic for adults every now and then. I've met a lot of clowns in that time as sometimes we're at the same event, and I've seen them ask for hugs from the kids every now and then, and while I realize they're trying to be sweet, an involuntary cringe goes up my spine that one day it's going to come back and haunt them even though I know they're not pedophiles, but a hand can slip or something can look bad when viewed from the wrong angle or some parents just might see an opportunity to make some bucks. Every now and then a kid just grabs me and hugs me, and that also scares me though I hide it well.

TlalocW

http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/17835.asp



I am SHOCKED. :sarcasm:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1010071clown1.html?link=rssfeed

He looks simply magnificent, doesn't he? A natural talent! Look how fascinated the chilren are! They look as if they've been beaten.

He's not even a real clown.

Fucking pervert.

That's a weird damn name...


:yoiks: :+:+:+


Clowns creep me out.