Brown Rookie of the Week charged in child porn case

[jeh25]

Brown hockey player accused in child porn case
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 21, 2008
By Talia Buford

Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE — A Brown University hockey player is facing several charges, including distributing child pornography, stemming from an incident in Canada in 2006, according to officials.

Harrison Zolnierczyk, of Toronto, Ontario, a freshman at Brown, is set to appear in Port Alberni Provincial Court in Canada on March 13.

"We're still in the preliminary stages," said Zolnierczyk's lawyer, Richard Fowler of Vancouver, Canada. "There is a discussion taking place, but I can't tell you anything about those discussions. I can say that the charges on their face are more serious than the circumstances."

Zolnierczyk and his former teammate, Bradley Harding, were charged with four counts on July 9, 2007 of surreptitiously making a recording in a situation where a reasonable expectation of privacy is expected, knowingly distributing that recording, possessing child pornography and distributing child pornography. Harding pleaded guilty to the charges and is awaiting sentencing, said Cpl. Rob Foster, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Foster would not confirm any details of the incident yesterday, but did say that Zolnierczyk was facing charges resulting from an incident in the fall of 2006. The Canadian news wire, Canwest News Service, reported that Zolnierczyk and Harding made a sex tape with a teenage girl and posted it on on the Web site YouTube.

The Canadian legal system does not characterize offenses in terms of misdemeanors and felonies, Foster said, though he did say the charges are all punishable by jail time.

At the time of the alleged offense, Zolnierczyk played hockey for Alberni Valley High School. He is a forward for the Bears' hockey team.

Phone calls to Molly deRamel, spokeswoman for Brown University, and Roger Grillo, coach of the hockey team, were not immediately returned yesterday. It is unclear whether Zolnierczyk is still playing on the team or if he faces suspension.

According to the university's Web site, Zolnierczyk has played in 16 games this season. Earlier this month, he was nominated as rookie of the week for his performance against Harvard. The Bears play next at Dartmouth on Friday.

[LaJollaRed]

Wow...

I think Brown just wrote its own "Throw Your Clipboard" chant.

Seriously, that's horrible. It's likely that she wasn't a "child" but just underage, right? Anyone know anything more?

[ugarte]

The article doesn't list any charges relating to the sex itself, which indicates to me that the jurisdiction has a rational approach to statutory rape - that is, they don't bust people just over the age of consent for having sex with peers just under. It is still child pornography, though, and there are no "age of consent" exceptions for taping, holding or distributing it.

[Jerseygirl]

Oh ew. Ick ick ick. Even if she's not a "child" but merely "underage," I hope this teaches him and his buddies a hard lesson about not being a total sleazeball. What a d.b.

[jeh25]

[quote Jerseygirl]Oh ew. Ick ick ick. Even if she's not a "child" but merely "underage," I hope this teaches him and his buddies a hard lesson about not being a total sleazeball. What a d.b.[/quote]

Yeah, the hidden taping / youtube aspect takes this to a whole new level, even assuming she's "only underage" and not actually a child.

[ebilmes]

Wouldn't Zolnierczyk and Scali have been teammates until spring 2006?

[sah67]

The Brown radio-announcing team will angrily declare that the girl should have gotten the penalty...err..criminal charges.

[Jerseygirl]

Well, none of this would have happened if she weren't such a hussy.

/puts troll-poking stick away

[Robb]

Yeah, but it's the Brown student body that will probably suffer - they'll probably tack on an extra week of sensitivity and multicultural brainwashing to orientation after this.  The real kicker?  The Brown students will enjoy it...::panic::

[Trotsky]

Wasn't Brown where the dorm prostitution ring was?

The guy probably put a topless pic of his 17 year old girlfriend online.

[Will]

Is it wrong to pray to somehow get a Brown @ Cornell series at Lynah in the postseason?

[Trotsky]

[quote Will]Is it wrong to pray to somehow get a Brown @ Cornell series at Lynah in the postseason?[/quote]It is wrong to root for us to finish 5th.

[billhoward]

O'Byrne isn't looking so bad anymore.

[French Rage]

Around the bowl and Up the hole, go Brown go?

[Give My Regards]

At the very least, the next time Cornell plays Brown, that Gary Glitter song will be a lot more appropriate...