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Man's arrest after viewing child porn in library called a first
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More from CamarilloThe arrest of a Camarillo man who was viewing child pornography at a public library was the first of its kind in the county, police and library officials said Wednesday.
Richard Gene Ballard, 57, was arrested Monday at the Camarillo Library after a plainclothes detective spotted him viewing child porn on a library computer, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
The Southern California High Tech Task Force, which includes the Sheriff's Department and the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, began investigating the case after someone reported seeing a man looking at child porn at the Camarillo Library on March 31.
The man left the library before detectives arrived that day, but he was captured on library security cameras. On Monday, a library employee spotted him and called police. A plainclothes detective responded and found him again looking at child porn, authorities said.
Investigators later searched Ballard's residence and found hundreds of sexually explicit images of children that had been printed from a computer, Detective Kevin Donoghue said. They also found blankets, ropes, duct tape and candy in Ballard's car, the detective said.
Ballard was booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of child pornography and related misdemeanors. He was being held this week in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Although local libraries do not restrict Internet access for adults, authorities said Ballard's case is highly unusual.
"What I see is one isolated incident where the police responded perfectly," said Jackie Griffin, director of the Ventura County library system. "We have thousands of people a day using libraries and computers, and this is certainly the first case like this we have had."
Internet access for people under 18 is restricted at Ventura County libraries, but there are no filters for adult users, Griffin said. As part of a 1998 court settlement involving a lawsuit brought by the local Libertarian Party, the library system was ordered to provide unfiltered Internet access for adult patrons. A year earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court granted sweeping free speech rights to the Internet, overturning a federal law targeting online pornography.
Donoghue said he has investigated one other allegation of someone looking at child porn at the Camarillo Library but never identified a suspect in that case.
Ballard is not suspected of any crimes other than possessing child porn, Donoghue said. He had no prior criminal history in Ventura County.
Donoghue said anyone who might have had suspicious contact with Ballard can call detectives at 383-8704.
Posted by hemlock1262 on April 17, 2008 at 5:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Would this be Richard Gene Ballard, proud graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and recipient of a "Doctor of Ministry" degree in 1989?
Nah, couldn't be. Could it? Because church folk are so much better than the rest of us.
Posted by keepin_it_real on April 17, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm confused--does a librarian have to log a person on to a computer? Because how would a computer know if you are a child or an adult? Does it ask if you are you and adult or child and you have to click on it and it takes your word for it. If that is the case, any child can just answer the ? any way she/he wants. Just like those stupid ads or surveys, "you must be over 18 in order to participate". No one checks on it. Click on the answer and you are in on your word.
Just like the dial a porn on the porn or the sites on the computer. So, somebody please explain to me what do these filters do? How would they prevent a child from going to a porn site in the library?
With all that said, I think the guy should be put away for good. He is a danger to society. It is scary to me that he had ropes, duct tape and items like this in his car. He obviously had plans to, or has kidnapped a children in the past.
Posted by Face on April 17, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The library would have to filter all pornography out, those computers should be filtered down with Net Nanny or something like that. Adults who want to look at porn will simply have to go somewhere else.
Posted by jjp009 on April 17, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Ballard is not suspected of any crimes other than possessing child porn, Donoghue said. He had no prior criminal history in Ventura County." Gee, I'd say the blankets, ropes, duct tape, and candy were a pretty good indication that he was on his way to committing some serious crimes that he JUST HASN'T BEEN CAUGHT FOR YET!!!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 17, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hemlock1262 , Its sad you think Church people are so much better then the rest. No need to put down Church people here. He is just a freak, thats all.
keepin_it_real ,This is a guess..... I would assume that anyone requesting to use the computer would have to show ID if they appeared under age. And then be assigned to a certain computer with a filter on it. Many computers have a Master user who can change the settings for minor children to not be able to get into. Just set the settings and they wouldn't be able to get into certain sites. If I was the Librarian thats what I would do. Just a guess.
Face99 ,ALthough I have never heard of Net Nanny I agree!!! No one should be ever able to get into those sites.
And yes its very scary the things he had in his car !! No telling what he is capable of. I hope they lock him up for a few years to think about it!
Posted by UdontKnowMe on April 17, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good work to all those who partipated in catching this sicko. Its very sad that these types of sadistic people and websites exist at all.
Posted by freethought on April 17, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"As part of a 1998 court settlement involving a lawsuit brought by the local Libertarian Party, the library system was ordered to provide unfiltered Internet access for adult patrons."
It's that sort of crap that keeps people from taking the Libertarian Party serious. I'm not attached to any party, but I believe most of us have enough common sense to know when the whole "free speech rights" defense should be laughed at. Anyone wanting unfiltered internet access should buy a computer and subscribe to an IPS. A library of any sort is no place for it, just like it's no place to run around nude. I'm still hopeful that, one day, common sense will prevail.
Posted by CEO_of_da_805 on April 17, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
keepin_it_real and AnnaWhaat
just FYI, the way the internet access works at the camarillo library is that the unfiltered computers are on da second floor and the filtered computers are on the first floor. To log into the unfiltered computers you have to log in using your library card number. So the library card number determines whether the user has access to the unfiltered computer or not, either way, I agree that there must be a better way to monitor the users and the information that is accessed in our public libraries...hope that helps
Posted by del on April 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I suppose I should go turn myself in to the authorities. For I also carry rope, duct tape and even a blanket/pad in my vehicle.
It is the very same ideals fought for by the Libertarian Party why I have maintained my membership in for over 30 years. If not, other people would be making decisions on what I can read and view as an adult. As for those under 18, yes, public library access to certain sites should be limited. But those folks are not deemed "adults". But then most "adults" do not behave in an adult manner.
Do not get me wrong ‘child porn’ should be ferreted out and destroyed, but as I remember reading about the problem, as well as other ‘web’ problems, the sites are ‘offshore’ and federal authorities have no jurisdiction.
I am sure there will those who will enlighten me as to their thoughts and insights.
Posted by 4PETESAKE on April 17, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a SICKO!!! Sorry to tell him, but they aint got the internet in prison!
Posted by ebrockway on April 17, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok del, you tossed dust over the issue and changed it to duct tape in the trunk. It aint about the DUCT TAPE. Stay with me on this, it's about allowing unfiltered internet access in a public library, and the fact that the Libertarian Party sued to allow it. About a guy arrested for viewing child porn in a public library, who also happened by the way to have items in his vehicle that may or may not be used as tools for kidnapping.
Carry all you want in your trunk. Don't forget the zip ties, handcuffs, whatever. Turn yourself in for having it and guess what? They'd let you go. Try it sometime.
Posted by keepin_it_real on April 17, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey guys--thanks for the info. If that is the case, I agree, all the library computers need to be filtered. If any one needing something more than "general" information, they need to seek it somewhere else.
Posted by Face on April 17, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just saw a COPS where the arrested a guy in a library masturbating to child porn. This seems to be a national phenomena. There is no guaranteed right to pornography, certainly not in a Public Library. You cannot design libraries to be like XXX rated peep shows where they can go into a room and do their sick business. Filters on all library computers are the only way to avoid public displays of sexual gratification in our Public Libraries.
Posted by nancy_4ever on April 17, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe this man isn't being investigated!!! With all of the missing children around this state and nearby Nevada and Arizona - why isn't this man, his previous residences, mileage, phone calls, relatives, and realtionships being questionsd!!!!?????? -it doesn't take a genius.... This is a lucky break for a smart cop somewhere. These items were purchased by a criminally intelligent individual preying on the weakest of our society!!! How passive have we become???!!~! I hope people rise up on this one - or we will all be guilty.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 18, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CEO_of_da_805 ,Thanks for the info. I knew they had to have some sort of system.
del , Do you have candy in the glovebox?
nancy_4ever ,Good idea. I would think they at least ran his prints.
Posted by Do_not_subscribe_to_VCS_buy_at_store_or_read_at_library on April 19, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In response to the comment of keepin_it_real on April 17, 2008 at 7:45 a.m.:
You have to enter your library card number to use a computer with Internet access at that library. They have separate computers for children and adults and the computer does not allow Internet access until it verifies that the library card number was assigned to a person of the age that is allowed to use that computer. They even have the children's computers and adults' computers on separate floors.
Posted by My2Cents on April 20, 2008 at 12:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was nearly sick to my stomach when I heard of this story... Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick.
Do you all know how many private & public schools are in the immediate area of the public library--MANY!
This SOB had a plan. Thank the powers that be that he's been caught and that we're not reading about a parents worst nightmare in the news.
$50,000 bail isn't enough. Maybe the judge, or whomever is responsible for setting the bail, doesn't take this to heart. The bail should have been set with a few more zeros...
Great job to all those that had a hand in catching this sick SOB.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 22, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hemlock1262 ,Really you shouldn't mock people that attend Church. No one is better then anyone else. And Church people should have thier Church open to all. Sorry I guess I alread commented on that above.
Posted by vision on July 30, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is obvious to me this man is mentally disordered and needs to be in a hospital for a long time. More likely he was a victim of some kind of sexual perversion as a child.
The issue here is not about libraries having filtered computers, because how much power can we give government protecting us from are selfs. There will be a time when we are all robots with someone directing every aspect of are lives, then wheres your freedom.
Remember not to long ago 1960 it was ok for a 15 year old to marry and have children.
All we can do is be compassionate to each other and try to remove the mentally sick and dangerous people from society. News and media are at are finger tips today witch makes the world seem like a very sick and dangerous place. The moral compass is broken and when a law is written to protect one persons right it usually stomps on another's.
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