CBS NEWS/48 HOURS
I was delighted in 2006 when a producer from the CBS News program 48 Hours contacted me after friends in the photo industry brought my troubles to his attention. We exchanged a number of e-mails and then he came down to Radford and spent a day in my studio with me and a member of my legal team, listening to my story and familiarizing himself with my studio. After that visit we stayed in touch and I sent him a lot of material including lots of still photos and videos. They were planning to tell my story on one of their programs, the story of an innocent man caught up in a justice system gone mad. Later a second producer came to visit in my studio and I thought we were a sure go on the story. My dream from the beginning of this disaster was to focus the light of the national/international media on my story.
In early 2007 CBS News and the local media presented petitions to the court to be allowed to bring their cameras into the courtroom for any remaining pretrial hearings and the trial, something I welcomed. Unfortunately, the judge said that he would not allow the cameras because in Virginia cameras are not allowed in the courtroom if any of the charges are sexual in nature. The judge could override that, but chose not to.
Without their cameras in the courtroom it was obvious that 48 Hours could not give my story adequate television coverage, so I was not surprised when the producer told me they were forced to drop the story. I was saddened by this, particularly because I had granted them exclusive TV rights to my story and had not sought out any other media coverage. It was too late at the time of the judge's ruling to go looking for other media coverage.
I am still seeking to catch the attention of national/international media for my story. If anyone reading this website can help in this, please go to the contact page for my address and write to me. I know this injustice can not stand under the withering gaze of media attention.