Barker explained that Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chuck Patterson, who was not available for Friday's hearing, believes - from 26 comments by posters to a story on the initial arrests in connection with Wright's Dec. 28 killing inside Jamie's Courtside Sports & Spirits, a Spring Garden Township bar - that some or all might be eyewitnesses.
Kelley had scheduled the hearing to allow argument against the release of the posters' identities from any other concerned parties. No one representing Topix, the newspaper or the defendants appeared in court.
According to Topix's Terms of Service, which are available on the Web page where comments are posted, "Please be aware . . . we will release specific personal information about you if required to do so in order to comply with any valid legal process such as a search warrant, subpoena, statute, or court order."
While Kelley was not required to make a ruling on the matter, he told Barker, "I think it is appropriate for you to proceed through subpoena duces tecum (a subpoena ordering the production of records)."
The point being though, and this particular criminal case aside, just be careful with Topix, which would apparently out its forum posters for lesser reason if push came to shove with the government.
Geez. THat is a different matter altogether now.