[...]Justin Berry: From ‘camwhore’ to water-baptized witness for the State via BlogRodent[...]…

[...]Justin Berry: From ‘camwhore’ to water-baptized witness for the State via BlogRodent[...]…

The exit of Eichenwald, a former star reporter for The New York Times, came Friday in the wake of allegations he gave more money than he had previously disclosed to a teenage boy who was the focus of an article on sexual exploitation on the Web.

Eichenwald had previously admitted to sending a check for $2,000 to Justin Berry in June 2005 to help find and rescue the then-18-year-old star in a network of child-porn sites.

A month later, when he realized Berry would be the focus of his Times feature on child porn, Eichenwald said he made sure he got the money back.

The controversy heated up again last week after sealed documents in a child-molestation court case suggested that Eichenwald shelled out an additional $1,100. (From: “Ace Trumped by Porn News,” via New York Post)

Worse, Jossip.com reports that Eichenwald not only paid for an account on Justin’s porn-site — with administrative access so he could monitor account activity — but some of this money went to pay for photos from Justin. What kind of pix is unclear.

Seems the biblical advice to take care when helping someone in sin that you not get snared yourself is good advice for everybody.

See also: Kurt Eichenwald Resigns from Portfolio from The New York Observer. “Court Papers Said to Show Added Payments by Reporter,” via The New York Times.

Justin’s former (and possibly) current should be held under a microscope. However, we all know that it’s God alone who knows the heart, but that we also get a glimpse of what’s going on in the heart from what comes out of the mouth and the fruit of their actions — both are scripturally sound principles. So, yeah, we do get to “judge” Justin. Hopefully, this will be done as fair and as loving as possible. Otherwise we might consider YOUR motives for judging using the same measuring instruments!

Too, Justin deserves the benefit of the doubt as a 13 year old having been caught-up in a lifestyle that isn’t pleasant. Most likely, the money lured him into doing things that eventually made him feel trapped. As ridiculous as it sounds, how many of us have done things we normally wouldn’t have but for the money that was potentially involved. Which brings me to this, too, scripturally sound precept: For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil!

Yeah, I get it: where were all the adults in his life?! Yep, I agree! They, at the very least, sucked at doing their parental/adult jobs in showing how to care for him. What a shame! And while it probably is a given that those adults who really knew what was going on to one degree or another (or were completely ambivalent) will “pay” in some fashion or another in the life hereafter. But what does that do for Justin and others like him. Regardless of the payoff he may or may not be getting now from Oprah or whomever, he still has to pick up what’s left of his life and move on! True, Eichenwald seems to be the closest thing to an adviser or parental figure right now. If so, Eichenwald should be held to the same standard as anyone else in his role would be expected to perform.

If Justin can make a living off of helping others from the entrapped life he once was in, I acknowledge two things: #1: that he wouldn’t have been known other than having the lifestyle and all the entrapments — both good and bad — that his former lifestyle seemed to give him; #2: that, regardless of his former lifestyle, I’m perfectly OK with the fact that he MIGHT be able to make a decent enough living from any interviews, books, appearances, speeches, etc. trying to encourage parents to do their job and for kids to beware of what’s “really” out there!

I live in a REAL world — one that is NO WHERE NEAR the word “ideal.” Yep, people make money off the most ridiculous of things, but if someone can make money doing something so life-giving, rather than sucking the life out of you (evil-doers), then I’m generally all for it.

I am very disturbed as to both sides of the argument, because the truth is REALLY somewhere in the middle! (As usual.)

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Regards,

Rich
BlogRodent

For example its not illegal for teenage boys under the age of 18 to masturbate. If it was, just about every teenage boy in the US with at least one hand would be in prison. However, it is illegal for anyone, including the teenager himself, to video or photograph a masturbation session and then distribute the videos or photographs. 16 may be the age of consent in Rhode Island (and 27 other states), but it is child pornography under federal law if the participant is under the age of 18.

The technology has gotten away from the law. How many teenagers have a digicam or a webcam and a computer with internet access? All by themselves, they can create child pornography in the privacy of their own bedroom and distribute it over the internet. Why would they do it? Not to sell it or give it away to dirty old men, but to trade with each other.

I think that was what the girls in Rhode Island were doing. They made of bunch of explicit photos, put some up on myspace to get some attention, and probably had a bunch more saved on a hard drive to trade for other teens photos.

Rhode Island listed as 16 years old.

In many states the age of consent is 16 yrs old.

Sounds like this one will be tossed out of court.