News Stories

[Knight Hawk]

Basically the guy got arrested since he has some Lolicon manga in his collection. The image the site shows is from Comic LO (adult content)

Here's one of those court cases that's going to affect every one of us here in the U.S.: An Iowa man has been arrested for importing manga that was considered to be obscene. As the story goes, the defendant, Christopher Handley, ordered seven volumes of manga from Japan back in May 2006. The Postal Inspector had gotten a search warrant for Mr. Handley after "determining that the package contained cartoon images of objectionable content." Handley was unaware of this and drove back home, leading law enforcement officers to his house, where they seized his collection of over 1,200 volumes of manga, hundreds of DVDs, VHS tapes, seven computers, and more.

In the past, lolicon manga has been a part of a child pornography case, but this is the first time someone is being prosecuted for just their manga collection. Simon believes that Handley has some lolicon manga on his shelf. Basically, this case is hinging on a section of the PROTECT Act that the judge presiding over this case has ruled that the part of the PROTECT Act dealing with the depiction of minors cannot be applied to this case, and that the Supreme Court has already ruled that the Act can only be applied to "fictional imagery when the image is clearly based on or derived from actual identifiable minors, i.e. a tracing or digital composite imagery."

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Knight Hawk

Basically the guy got arrested since he has some Lolicon manga in his collection. The image the site shows is from Comic LO (adult content)

that will teach people to buy adult manga, just download like the rest of us

[mg1942]

Originally Posted by Knight Hawk

Basically the guy got arrested since he has some Lolicon manga in his collection. The image the site shows is from Comic LO (adult content)

I guessed Comic LO on pg 44 of this thread (I was sooo right!)

[Knight Hawk]

Yeah its a bit risky ordering content that contains lolicon in it these days.

[mg1942]

If the guy gets convicted (I hope not!!!) it's probable to expect that anybody who then imports manga/doujinshi will have it thoroughly searched through.

[james0246]

Originally Posted by mg1942

If the guy gets convicted (I hope not!!!) it's probable to expect that anybody who then imports manga/doujinshi will have it thoroughly searched through.

Unless the lolicon mangas he bought contain photo-realistic cartoon pictures of young children, he will not be convicted. But, his social life is destroyed...

[Anh_Minh]

What social life? He had 1200 volumes of manga.

[FatPianoBoy]

Originally Posted by james0246

But, his social life is destroyed...

Which probably what everyone involved hopes to accomplish, anyway. If they can't arrest people who enjoy lolicon, they can at least publicly humiliate them.
I guess I won't be importing Kodomo no Jikan anytime soon, either...

*Wanders off humming Don't Stand So Close to Me*

[mg1942]

What's interesting is what was the Iowa man doing with his 7 computers...
I bet it's encrypted too

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Vexx

@Solace's link to the federal case: Sounds pretty much like Alice Martin (the US attorney) has a lot of goblins in her head, I wonder if she's one of the attorneys illegally brought in to replace an attorney canned for not being a "Bushie" ..... that's a year 2006 article though... any news on how it turned out?

I did try to find a follow up to what happened but had no luck.

[james0246]

Originally Posted by Solace

I did try to find a follow up to what happened but had no luck.

From Wikipedia:

By October 2008, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund became involved in a case defending an Iowan comic collector named Christopher Handley, with Eric Chase of the group operating as his legal consultant. This is related to obscenity charges involving pornography depicting minors, being applied to a fictional comic book. Judge Gritzner was petitioned to drop some of the charges. The motion was initially heard on June 24, 2008 but was not widely publicized prior to the Fund's involvement.

So, prosecution is ongoing, but will probably end with no conviction.

[mg1942]

Originally Posted by james0246

Unless the lolicon mangas he bought contain photo-realistic cartoon pictures of young children, he will not be convicted. But, his social life is destroyed...

Do you get 'branded' on the record?

[Solace]

Originally Posted by james0246

From Wikipedia:

So, prosecution is ongoing, but will probably end with no conviction.

I was referring to Vexx's question to the article I linked, not the one about the manga case.

[james0246]

Originally Posted by mg1942

Do you get 'branded' on the record?

Legally, nothing can be held against the acquited, they were found not guilty, so there is nothing legally preventing them (or him in this case) from leading a normal life. But, since any trial is a matter of public record, anyone doing a basic search for past offenses can find the name and the reason for arraignment. Personal opinions can then be based on the acquittal, and while no legal actions can be taken against the acquitted, they can still be stigmatized or "branded" by society.

Originally Posted by Solace

I was referring to Vexx's question to the article I linked, not the one about the manga case.

Sorry for the confusion . Looking over your info, it seems the lead man Jeff Pierson plead guilty to charges of child pornography while the owners of the company's website plead not guilty. (Alabama Photographer Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges.)

[Solace]

Yup that's the one. I'm guessing he worked out a bargaining plea rather than go through years of courts and press attention. I can't help but feel that article leans a little on the details.

[james0246]

Originally Posted by Solace

Yup that's the one. I'm guessing he worked out a bargaining plea rather than go through years of courts and press attention. I can't help but feel that article leans a little on the details.

Well it is just from the Prosecutor’s viewpoint (literally, since it came from the State Attorney’s office ), so it leans more toward whatever position the Prosecution was leaning toward. As to the plea bargain, undoubtedly you are correct. I could not find if the defendant served any time, so I assume he was let off with a fine and asked to provide testimony against his colleagues.

[SeedFreedom]

There's a rather simple method around this mess (no pun intended). Simply list every girl as over 18. Even if they look 12 just say their 18. Its physically impossible to determine a drawings age unless its stated by the artist so as long as they say the character is 18 there is absolutely nothing the law can do.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by SeedFreedom

There's a rather simple method around this mess (no pun intended). Simply list every girl as over 18. Even if they look 12 just say their 18. Its physically impossible to determine a drawings age unless its stated by the artist so as long as they say the character is 18 there is absolutely nothing the law can do.

all hentai sold in the US already has that.

[Nervous Venus]

If the guy gets convicted (I hope not!!!) it's probable to expect that anybody who then imports manga/doujinshi will have it thoroughly searched through

I wouldn't really care, considering none of the manga I buy have objectionable material anyway. Not really a fan of hentai or loli/shota. Although I know I'll be really annoyed at having to wait for people to riffle through my things just because other people do.

[Vexx]

Problem is, Nervous Venus, what YOU consider a-ok may be "horrendous porn" to someone else with too much time on their hands.
Panty shot of an under-age high-schooler who seems upset by it in your manga? The wingnut US Attorney may want a word with you.


Looking over the details of the case, I wish the photographer had fought it. The US Attorney wanted a trophy score though and I'm guessing his lawyers said plea bargain or you'll be smeared and destroyed. The Attorney now gets to trumpet she's "saved the children" when in fact she's wasted a large amount of taxpayer dollars on a smear-job while the *real* problem remains unaddressed.

This sort of thing has War on Drugs and War on Terror written all over it --- no real plan to solve the problem because the existence of the problem gives them power and authority. "Look!!! There's a Witch!!" is an ancient technique of holding and wielding power.