Weldon Marc Gilbert, Suspect In Child Rape Case, Allowed To Watch Child Pornography In Jail (VIDEO)

Weldon Marc Gilbert, a Washington man who is on trial for raping young boys and for producing child pornography, will be allowed in jail to watch as much of that child pornography as he'd like, according to a report from KOMO-TV.

KOMO 4's Keith Eldridge reports that the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that defense lawyers have the opportunity to review all evidence facing their client, and because the 50-year-old is acting as his own attorney, he'll be able to review all of that material.

"In my 16 years as a prosecutor, this is one of the most absurd and maddening results I've ever heard of, and this is the first time I'm aware of this happening in Pierce County," Mark Lindquist, a prosecutor in Pierce County, told ABCNews.com. "We don't have to turn over the guns used as evidence for a defendant ... and it's absurd that we have to turn over the child porn as evidence."

In Gilbert's case, the evidence includes over 28 hours of pornography on over 100 videos. Some of the video features him spanking and caning his young victims to the point of blistering, according to The Seattle Times.

The Seattle Times also reports that Gilbert, who was a pilot for UPS, attracted young boys with rides in his airplane, travel, alcohol and flying lessons.

He was first arrested in Atlanta in 2007.

From the Associated Press:

Gilbert pleaded guilty in federal court in 2009 to producing child pornography, and received a 25-year sentence. But, The News Tribune reported, the deal was contingent on Gilbert also pleading guilty in state court to sex crimes, with prosecutors recommending a sentence of no more than 17 years, to run concurrently with the federal sentence.

When a judge told Gilbert his state sentence could be as long as life in prison, he withdrew his guilty plea.

The News Tribune reported in 2010 that Gilbert faces 14 felony charges, including child rape, child molestation possession of "depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct."

Watch the report from KOMONews.com:

Comments

[dbrett480]

05:39 PM on 08/07/2011

Thank God for the ACLU or this knucklehead wouldn't have access to an "adequate defense."

[Elaine Dittmer]

03:30 PM on 08/01/2011

Eeeek. I want to spit fire. In the NYTimes it says:

But Mr. Gilbert argued in his television interview that he would be more sensitive in his questioning than anyone else because he knew the young men.

“The last thing I want to do is embarrass and humiliate them,” he said.

This is about his victims! Who are shown in the videos!!!!

OMG Is he trying for an insanity plea?

[ElBruce]

02:04 PM on 07/19/2011

Everyone who posts here that they find this astonishing and awful, I hereby accuse of pedophilia. Having been accused, you must now submit to execution. You may not defend yourself against the accusation. That's how you want it to work, right?

[theHOLEtruth]

11:48 AM on 07/19/2011

This story is proof is exhibit "A" of the codding liberal policies and accommodations of the guilty that has made our courts and justice system a joke and in the continuing demise of the United States

I've taught in prisons, and if anybody thinks that the average American prison is punitive, think twice. I've frequently saw inmates return, and announce "I'm home"

Even the potential sentencing, was about 2 years per count, where MAYBE alone he would be look at 3 or more years... Our "progressive" American prisons are designed to rehabilitate not punish and denying a child molester the right to indulge in his perversion.

[ElBruce]

02:03 PM on 07/19/2011

The notion that a defending attorney gets access to the evidence against him is hardly a "liberal policy." Unless you're so right-of-center that you believe in totalitarian regimes with no trials whatsoever.

Personally, I don't think people should be allowed to defend themselves, but that's just me. As I recall, Ted Bundy used the "I'm my own lawyer so I get special perks for that" to escape from custody numerous times.

[OGMoney]

12:52 AM on 07/19/2011

only 3 letters sum this up

WTF

[salesdude]

10:44 PM on 07/18/2011

Relax everyone, its not like he hasn't already seen them and used them for sexual gratification repeatedly. And acting as his own lawyer he has the right to view the evidence...as ugly as it is. There is no doubt that he WON"T be left alone in a locked room with a bottle of hand lotion and a box of tissues to watch them. He is after all in prison. He's already convicted. The very tapes he'll be looking at the jury will also see, and act on accordingly, it's just a matter of time. .

[WheresNixon]

10:29 PM on 07/18/2011

WHAT? So I guess he gets to question and cross examine any witnesses too... This is just sickening!

[Catters]

07:48 PM on 07/18/2011

I think I might have upchucked a bit there... what? really? seriously??? I get the whole innocent until proven guilty bit.. but do tell.. what innocent individual would even WANT to review the .. erm... evidence? Come onnnnn..... *facepalm*

[LoyalBob]

07:36 PM on 07/18/2011

He'll get his. Tenfold.

[MikoRose]

07:36 PM on 07/18/2011

It makes me wonder about these Judges. I wonder what they have hidden on their computers. They need to be checked out.

[girldog]

10:47 PM on 07/18/2011

What are you talking about? They made this decision to give this sicko every chance at a fair trial so they can convict him. They are trying to avoid any chance of a mistrial.

[babybrut]

04:41 PM on 07/18/2011

Putrid.

[MrGaughran]

04:35 PM on 07/18/2011

United States legal system! I'm dumbfounded. Really, I am.

[lifeiscarbon]

03:16 PM on 07/18/2011

Disturbing. Nonetheless, as Tolms has pointed out, even those accused of heinous crimes are granted certain protections under the law..

However, I have questions about the implementation of this. Under what conditions will the suspect review this evidence? Will there be any measures taken to prevent these reviews from being done solely for the purposes of gratification?

Hypothetically, if the suspect were to now state openly that this was his intent, would that change the legal justification for it?

[girldog]

10:17 PM on 07/18/2011

The video said the evidence will be reviewed in a private interview room with an investigator present.

[ldyvshalot]

02:16 PM on 07/18/2011

Announce in prison that he's a convicted child molester and I bet his dance card will be filled before he reaches his cell.

[Tolms]

01:14 PM on 07/18/2011

As gross as it is, he is acting as his own attorney, so legally, he has a right. The system is set up to protect everyone involved as much as possible, though in this case it's ugly to think about, overall the laws in place protect our rights.