I believe Pete Townsend also used the research defense.
Yep.
"Townshend claimed he accessed the Web sites because he was researching material for his autobiography, which will include passages about his abusive childhood. In his statement, he said he thinks he may have been sexually abused between the ages of 5 and 6 while in the care of his maternal grandmother, who was mentally ill.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459501/20030113/story.jhtml