[Macfan4life]

The answers to our questions are in the MTV link someone posted. Waddy was arrested for kiddie porn materials/images printed out. He was charged with a misdemeanor which carries a maximum of one year in jail. I have never heard of a misdemeanor charge of child pornography. It could be something to do with the images themselves which is something we will never know. I do know child porn charges get enhanced if any images portray children under 12 years old and I think may get enhanced again for images portraying children under 6. The first few articles posted were very murky with stating he was charged with "suspicion of child pornography." You cant get convicted of suspicion. There must be evidence of a crime. For example, suspicion of bank robbery? Either you robbed the bank and there is evidence of that or not. No one gets arrested or charged with suspicion.
Things have changed some since 1998. Today the federal government is more involved charging people with child porn than the states did back then. In addition the sentences are more harsh. I did look up California statute and it said a felony conviction of child pornography can get 8 years maximum. A misdemeanor charge carries a maximum of 1 year in jail. In Miami last year there was a fireman in the city who was discovered to have child porn on his laptop. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was prosecuted in federal court. I believe the CA statute requires any sex offender conviction to register as a sex offender for life. This means anywhere Waddy would move, he must check in and register with that state or local law enforcement office. In addition each country would have similar regulations and that is how this Australia thing made the news. Either Waddy and his wife dodged a bullet or the images were borderline child porn and thus the misdemeanor charge.