[BunnySlippers]

According to Wikipedia he was being monitored in the chat rooms. I would love to see his dossier:

. [18] According to authorities familiar with the criminal investigation, Ward is alleged to have been monitored while discussing and trading child pornography while in internet chat rooms [19]

[budman_2001]

Article in today's Matier & Ross column says that the Fed's offered a 5-year-term plea bargain as far back as a year and a half, and Ward didn't take it.

And now, he's a "nolo contendre" for economical reasons? Ugh, an upstanding judge will throw the book at him, if he's lucky, then again---its SF and there's a few really wacky judges there. I guess Ward will be taking his chances.