The NY Post neatly summarizes the details of Scott Ritter's extracurricular activities in Inspector, Heal Thyself:
Well, here's something Scott Ritter doesn't want to talk about - his arrest in upstate New York nearly two years ago on charges he got all hot and bothered online with a 14-year-old.
Turns out he was nabbed in 2001 by police in the Albany suburb of Colonie, in a sting operation: Ritter was accused of having a sexual chat on the Internet with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl - but who actually was an undercover cop.
He was charged with a class B misdemeanor, and the case was later adjourned in local court in contemplation of dismissal - meaning that if he stayed out of trouble for six months, the case would be sealed. The first anyone learned about the case was last Saturday, when it was first disclosed by the Schenectady Gazette.
Even the local DA knew nothing about Ritter's arrest - and he quickly fired the prosecutor who adjudicated the case without ever telling her boss about it.
Contacted by the Gazette, Ritter disingenuously insisted that "you must have the wrong person."
But at least three news organizations have confirmed that it was Saddam's new best friend who was placed under arrest.
Last night, Albany's WRGB-TV reported that this wasn't just an isolated instance. According to the station, Ritter actually went to a location after the "girl" agreed to meet him - but was let off with a warning by cops.
Only after a second incident - three months later! - was he actually arrested, according to the station.
Details are slim, because the record has been sealed and Ritter, his lawyer and Colonie town officials aren't talking.
But next time you hear Scott Ritter on one of the cable news channels fulminating about America's immoral behavior and how the leaders of this country have turned into "the bad guys," remember that this is a man whose alleged idea of morality is to engage in sex talk with underage girls - and maybe worse.
UPDATE: The Albany Times Union clarifies the timeline:
Colonie -- The Internet sex case that led to the arrest of a former U.N. weapons inspector was not his first involvement with police on that type of crime, a person familiar with the case said Monday.Indeed.
Scott Ritter was under investigation for trying to set up a meeting with a girl through the Internet when town police charged him in June 2001 with using an online chat room to set up a similar rendezvous at a Menands restaurant, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Police began investigating the 41-year-old Ritter, who lives in Delmar, in April 2001 after he tried to meet someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, the source said. Ritter drove to a Colonie business, where he instead was met by police officers, the source said.
Ritter, an outspoken critic of President Bush's plans for war against Iraq, was released without being charged while police investigated.
Two months later, the source said, Ritter was caught in the same type of Internet sex-sting operation after he tried to lure a 16-year-old girl to a Burger King in Menands. The supposed teenager actually was an undercover investigator posing online as a minor as part of the town Police Department's investigation of Internet sex crime, the source said.
Police charged Ritter with attempted endangerment of a child, a Class B misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in the county jail.
Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser agreed to have the case adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, which means that charges would be dropped if Ritter stayed out of trouble for a period of time. A Colonie town justice sealed the case after the agreement between the prosecutor and defendant was reached.
...
Ritter declined to be interviewed when asked Monday by e-mail whether he wanted to give his side of the story.
"Thanks for your e-mail," he wrote. "I have no comment on the issue you mentioned."
