Gay Pornography Can Be Used in Navy Trial
October 2, 2007 - 9:44am

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a decision that could jeopardize a Navy physician's career, a military judge ruled Monday that gay pornography found on the doctor's computer can be used as evidence in his trial on charges that he videotaped U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen having sex.

Cmdr. Kevin J. Ronan is charged with seven counts of conduct unbecoming an officer, three counts of illegal wiretapping and one count of obstruction of justice. Prosecutors said the pornography establishes a motive for the alleged secret taping of the midshipmen.

Ronan, who hosted midshipmen in his home as part of a Naval Academy program, could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Even if Ronan is found innocent at trial this month, the evidence often brings a military investigation into a service member's sexual orientation. Open homosexuality is grounds for being dismissal from the service.

Ronan's lawyers had tried to keep the evidence out of his trial, saying prosecutors couldn't prove he was the one who downloaded the material, and that the implication he might be gay would turn the jury against him.

"The effect of this is going to be to suggest, 'This is a bad person, he's got homosexual tendencies, and we certainly don't want him in the Navy,'" William Ferris, Ronan's civilian attorney, said in the Washington Navy Yard courtroom. He noted the uproar over the recent comments of Gen. Peter Pace, the nation's former top uniformed officer, who said he believed homosexual behavior was "immoral."

"There is a strong prejudice against homosexuals in the military," Ferris said.

Ronan briefly took the stand and denied any knowledge of the videos or pictures and said he didn't know how they got onto his computer. He said that about a dozen midshipmen regularly stayed in his home in their free time, and Ferris stated that any of them could have downloaded the pornography.

Ronan was not asked about his sexual orientation.

Ronan was previously a team physician for Naval Academy sports teams and a medical officer in the midshipmen's dorm.

Ronan also was a "sponsor" at the service academy. Sponsors typically are Annapolis residents who open their homes to midshipmen so the midshipmen can relax on weekends or school holidays.

Marine Col. Steven Day, the judge in the case, said that admitting the evidence could be harmful to the defense case, but agreed with prosecutors that the reasons for allowing it outweighed potential bias. The judge said he would limit any bias with jury instructions and by carefully screening jurors.

The images and videos could be used to prove motive, Day said, and could show "possible need on his part" to view "young, athletic males" engaged in sexual activity.

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Information from: The (Baltimore) Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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Seriously...I think its just ridiculous that a trial is taking place and that this Dr. could face more than 10 years in prison over this. Its not as if they found child pornography. They found gay pornography in the private home of this man. It is time that "Don't Ask...Don't Tell be done away with. The only thing that the gay porn on the computer and the taping of the midshipmen having sex prove is that he likes the freaky sneaky apparently as much as I do. Big freakin whoop!! I just think its very detrimental to the gay rights struggle that gay pornography and gay sex acts are subject to criminal prosecution in the military.

Was this same-sex or were they videos of straight couples having sex? Or was it both?

Yeah that is important, huh. In an article on military.com they say that the midshipmen were videotaped having sex with their girlfriends, but because of the discovery of gay porn on the Dr.s computer, he obviously wanted to see the guys "assets". My comment about the gay sex acts was just another description of the pornography found on his computer. The midshipmen were not engaged in sex acts with each other. If so, they too would be up for discharge.

I agree that the gay porn is completely irrelevant and should have no part in this case.

However, I do feel that taping midshipmen having sex does qualify as "conduct unbecoming an officer." I don't feel he should go to jail, but I do feel he should be discharged from the Navy. His sexuality shouldn't be on trial, but his unprofessional conduct is fair game.

Yes, thats true re: the secret videotaping of the midshipmen having sex. But, you KNOW that the emphasis is going to be on "the gay".

That navy doctor should be named doctor perv. Of course the media makes it seem that he is a warped gay 'guy'. He has mental health problems and its nothing about being gay.

Sadly, you are right. His being gay will be a primary focus when it shouldn't be.

What's really pathetic is that the military's stand on homosexuals actually encourages a lot of perverse behaviors. Instead of letting people be themselves, it forces them underground where they seek pleasure by less desirable means. If this doctor was allowed to be open with his sexuality, he could probably go out and have a partner and live a normal life. Instead, he is forced to hide and seek gratification through secret videos.

I'm not defending his videotaping (because that is clearly wrong), but the military's stand really is a driver behind it. Seems that the military and professional sports will be the last bastions of homophobia for many years to come.

don't ask, cause he won't tell!

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