Convo with City cop leads to porn charges
A random conversation with a Fredericksburg detective has resulted in 100 felony charges against a city man.
Date published: 10/30/2009
BY KEITH EPPS
A random conversation with a Fredericksburg detective has resulted in 100 felony charges against a city man.
Jason Michael Doughty, 38, was indicted by a city grand jury this week on 50 counts of possessing child pornography and 50 counts of reproducing child pornography. No trial date has been set.
According to police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe, Doughty was walking in the downtown area Sept. 17 when he was approached by Detective Mark Purcell. Purcell, who was off duty, thought Doughty resembled the suspect in July 2008 incident in which a young woman was attacked while jogging at the University of Mary Washington athletic field.
Doughty agreed to talk to Purcell and there is nothing linking him to the UMW incident. But during the conversation, Purcell got information that linked Doughty to child pornography.
Police said Doughty gave written consent for detectives to search his residence, and a computer, books he’d ordered from the Internet and child-sized dolls he’d made were seized. Police later got a search warrant for the computer and numerous images of children in sexually explicit situations were found.
Doughty was arrested Sept. 17 and more charges were filed this week. He is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Bledsoe said police are still investigating the July 10, 2008, incident at the track. In that case, a young woman was jogging when a man grabbed her and pulled her off the trail. The suspect displayed a gun, but the woman fought him off and got away.
Keith Epps:
540/374-5404
kepps@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 10/30/2009
Most recent reader comments:
Fredericksburg City Police...
(posted by
BossMan22408
, Oct. 30, 2009 6:01 pm)  
...are a blessing!! The citizens of Fredericksburg should thank their lucky stars, each and every day!!! Thank you for taking another perv' off of the streets!
As for the "doubting Thomas'" out there, a single word for you.... CLUELESS!!!
Great Work!!
(posted by
callalily_84
, Oct. 30, 2009 5:23 pm)  
No matter what happened to cause this wonderful series of events, this is an excellent example of what police work should be. This officer was quick enough to notice this man, even off duty, take the initiative to talk to him, and then follow up. Incredible! Congratulations on taking this very disturbed person off the streets and putting him in the spotlight so that his neighbors and others will know to look out. I mean "child size dolls"...disgusting! Thank god for a hard working and attentive officer!!
Got lucky?
(posted by
RescueRam3
, Oct. 30, 2009 4:07 pm)  
Come on dude...what would you call it if he missed catching this guy? Probably be calling for his head. And you have no right to claim "coerced" after reading a 1 page article on the internet. Just be glad a scum bag is off the streets and thank the next cop you come across. by the way, your reading comprehension stinks. The detective approached the guy to ask about something in which he match the description of the suspect. he probably spilled his own beans...ever watch 48 on TV and those confessions?
Random Conversation?
(posted by
AllenB
, Oct. 30, 2009 2:35 pm)  
I am NOT suggesting that what this man did is OK but this was not a random conversation with a detective as I read it. The detective approached this man and asked to search his residence. Sure the man could have said NO. But the writer's depiction of "randomness" is disturbing. Call it what it is: The detective mistakingly thought this man was involved in another crime, coerced him into a search, and got lucky.
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