Flirt, unzip, get bagged
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By
Bill Andriette
Ohio was a pioneer
in internet sex entrapment. The state's vice squads recognized
early that the ease of connecting online was a problem that needed
addressing. Now Buckeye sex cops are doing something about the
longstanding inequity that's made homosexuals a disproportionate
target for public-sex arrests.
At Columbus's
Berliner Park last May 30, the lure was a woman sunbathing topless
under a tree -- perfectly legal to do in Ohio's capital. She was
cooperating with police who, according to ABC News, were "targeting
men having sex or masturbating in the park." Hidden video cameras
rolled (see it at Tinyurl.com/3838fe).
Off-duty firefighter Robin
Garrison was walking through Berliner Park and responded to what he
says was the sunbather's flirting, and the two started to talk.
One thing led to another, and soon the woman spread her legs around
the sitting fireman and rested her feet on his shoulders. Then she
asked to have a look at Garrison's penis. When he unzipped, police
pounced.
"They clearly
knew what she was doing and arrested people as part of her
outrageous conduct," alleges Garrison's attorney Sam Shamansky.
On November 13, a
Columbus jury convicted the 42-year-old Garrison of public indecency
in the fourth degree. Judge Michael T. Brandt sentenced him to a
year's probation and $250 fine. Garrison is also barred from the
park.
Shamansky says his
client will appeal on the grounds that the judge failed to instruct
the jury properly on the legal threshold for entrapment.
***
Ohioans fight back
against repressive sex laws -- check out and support the ACLU
of Ohio (216-472-2200;
Aclu ohio.org
), Ohio Justice &
Policy Center (513-421-1108;
Ohiojpc.org
). Ohio Office of the
Public Defender (614-466-5394;
Opd.ohio.gov
) has info on the
latest law revisions.
Soclear.org
works to organize people affected by
sex-offender registries.
| Author Profile: Bill Andriette |
| Bill Andriette is features editor of
The Guide |
| Email: |
theguide@guidemag.com |
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