Thursday, July 08, 1999
Internet porn investigation widens
BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bertsche
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Meyer
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INDEPENDENCE — One man's computer, filled with images of child pornography, has led Independence police to launch a nationwide investigation into Internet porn.
So far, the case has led to two local arrests. Detectives have downloaded thousands of sexually explicit images, including children in sexual poses and adults in diapers, and confiscated everything from pictures to pacifiers.
“It crosses all the lines,” Independence Lt. Shawn Butler said. “Just a very odd case. None of us have ever seen anything like this.”
The ring appears to be as widespread as a suspect in northern Ohio and a victim in New Mexico, Lt. Butler said. His office plans to file warrants this month against at least one more suspect.
Independence police have called in FBI assistance and are seeking help from Hamilton County's Regional Electronic Computer Intelligence Task Force to examine computer evidence.
The first tip to police had nothing to do with computers. The investigation began with a hang-up call to 911.
Officers responded to Thomas Meyer's home on Turkeyfoot Road in Independence back in April. Police said the 14-year-old boy who made the call later said in an interview that Mr. Meyer made him wear a diaper and pose for pictures.
Mr. Meyer, 50, was arrested two months ago and charged with felony use of a minor in a sexual performance. Police seized his computer and more than 200 disks and videotapes.
Information he provided led to the weekend arrest of Walter Bertsche of Walnut Hills in Cincinnati.
Police said a search warrant served Friday at Mr. Bertsche's Collins Avenue home turned up more pictures of children and adults in sexually explicit poses.
At a hearing Wednesday in Hamilton County, Mr. Bertsche agreed to be trans ported to Kentucky to face charges of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.
Independence police are filing charges there “because we know some of the acts occurred here,” Lt. Butler said.
“Right now, we're trying to sort out the state charges and then hand it over to the feds,” he said. “Do I think it's going to get bigger? Yes.”
Grappling with crimes that cross jurisdictions on the Internet is more of a challenge than the average crime, said Lt. Steve Luebbe, commander of Cincinnati's personal crimes unit.
Because evolving technology makes cyber crimes harder to track, his staff is applying for a grant that would create a regional task force targeting Internet crimes against children.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is working with the FBI on a tip line that filters information about Internet crimes to local agencies.
The Justice Department is creating “cyber cop” groups, with 10 task forces already running, said Todd Mitchell, manager of government affairs for the NCMEC.
“In the '80s, if I was into child porn, I would have to leave my house and get in my car and go to the seedier side of town,” he said. “Now, I can just close my den door and log on.”
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