“Die Hard” director John McTiernan was sentenced to one year in prison Monday for lying about his association with a private investigator to illegally wiretap a movie producer.
In a stinging rebuke of the 59-year-old McTiernan, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer said he should receive a harsher sentence than the year recommended by prosecutors because he didn’t accept responsibility for his actions. “The defendant doesn’t think the law applies to him,” Fischer said.
Fischer also ordered McTiernan to pay a $100,000 fine and serve three years probation. He will remain free on bond pending an appeal.
McTiernan previously pleaded guilty to lying to an FBI agent in 2006 about the investigation of private investigator Anthony Pellicano. Pellicano was convicted in 2008 of wiretapping film producer Charles Roven for McTiernan and of bugging the phones of celebrities and others to get information for clients.
In April 2006, McTiernan told Fischer he hired Pellicano to wiretap Roven. (more)
Once in a while I can point to a news event which answers the question.
…A former Shirley Town Administrator Kyle Keady, 46… is alleged to have victimized an undetermined amount of people, but largely Town Hall officials and employees. Via secreted pen cameras, digital recorders and a baby monitor, Keady is charged with possessing hundreds, if not thousands, of audio, still images and video images of unwitting town officials and employees. Many images are reportedly of women in various stages of undress.
Keady led investigators to a baby monitor in the ceiling tiles above Town Accountant Bobbi Jo Coburn’s office – the extension cord running to his office where it ran down a wall covered by maps to be plugged into the wall.
A Sony digital recorder was discovered in a potted plant on the desk of Administrative Assistant Kathleen Rocco. But, causing the widest-spread grief,
battery operated pen cameras were apparently systematically placed in the ceiling vent, aimed downward, above the second stall in the public women’s room at Town Hall capturing any number of women, intended or otherwise.
The various digital medium used to warehouse the images were allegedly given up willingly by Keady upon request by State Police while investigators executed a search warrant on the second floor at 7 Keady Way – the Town Hall address on the roadway named in honor of Keady’s father Daniel, a longtime town official. Nine thumb drives were found on a single key ring in Keady’s pocket that he freely emptied, according to police reports.
Keady also allegedly granted police permission to search his vehicle and home. Nothing was found in his car but loads of pornography and seven boxes of digital recording devices were found at his home, along with another pen camera, several thumb drives and lurid, clandestinely attained Town Hall photos and videos. Keady also reportedly admitted to entering Rocco’s home and photographing a drawer full of her undergarments without her knowledge or permission. …Keady remains free on $2,500 cash bail posted in June. (more)
NY – State Police in Watertown arrested Sean M. Walsh, 41 years of age, Fort Drum, NY 13602 (not a soldier) Town of Leray on 1 count of Eavesdropping, a Class E Felony.
Mr. Walsh engaged in ‘mechanical’ overhearing of privileged conversations between his wife, her family members, and friends while at their residence on Fort Drum during the time period of August/September 2010. (
more)
A controversial new website (interneteyes.co.uk) allowing citizen spies to plug into the nation’s CCTV cameras and snoop from home was launched today. A £1,000 reward will be on offer each month for the video vigilantes who spot the most crimes. But civil liberties campaigners say the scheme is “distasteful” and encourages people to spy on each other. (more)
Raytheon engineers show Iron Man suit – The new robotic suit enables the wearer easily to lift 200lb several hundred times without tiring and repeatedly punch through three inches of wood; yet, the suit, which was developed for the U.S. Army, is also agile and graceful enough to let its wearer kick a football, punch a speed bag, or climb stairs and ramps with ease.
They unveiled the second-generation exoskeleton called XOS 2 at the company’s research facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The new robotic suit is lighter, faster, and stronger than its predecessor, yet it uses 50 percent less power. Its enhanced design also means that it is more resistant to the environment. (more)
