Posted by NewsEditor at 9:27 AM (PT)
In: law
Saturday
November
3,
2007
Source: Baltimore Sun
A Navy physician's home computer stored gay pornography in a folder titled "lectures" -- the label of one of the sex videos of Naval Academy midshipmen that the doctor is accused of secretly recording, a computer specialist testified yesterday.
The file on Navy Cmdr. Kevin Ronan's computer contained pictures of young shirtless men and more than 2,000 still frames from gay pornographic movies, said Michael Wavada, a specialist with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Washington.
Prosecutors in Ronan's court-martial at the Washington Navy Yard said the folder not only provides a "motive" for the doctor to secretly tape the midshipmen -- a sexual desire for young men -- but also provides a link between Ronan and at least one of the discs allegedly found at the physician's Annapolis home.
The testimony came on the final day of the prosecution's case against Ronan, who is charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, illegal wiretapping and obstruction of justice.
In an interview after yesterday's session, defense attorney William Ferris accused prosecutors of introducing the gay pornography to "prejudice" the jury and obscure the fact that they had nothing directly linking Ronan to secretly taping the midshipmen.
Defense attorneys say the videos were made to blackmail the doctor and likely were made by one or both of the midshipmen who prosecutors say found the videos in Ronan's home in January.
Ferris said he expects to call more witnesses Monday and for Ronan to take the stand Tuesday.
Last modified: 3 Nov 07 09:09
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