Reporter to whom alleged R. Kelly tape was sent

Is this guy guilty of "possessing child porn" simply because someone else -- without his permission -- sent him something and he opened it?
http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/r-kelly-trial-who-put-bullet-through-jim-derogatis-front-door/

What would you do if you were in this guy's spot? You get an unsolicited letter/package, and you open it. Turns out that the contents are illegal and you're in "possession" of them. If you throw it out immediately, you lose a story. If you call the cops, they wonder if you have made a copy of the items, and perhaps they harass you. If you tell your boss, you drag the paper into it.
As a reporter, I'd want to make a copy of anything (metaphorically) explosive that I'd get in the mail. I'd want it for my defense if libel litigation resulted. But if you make a copy of what turns out to be a porno tape, are you committing a crime? I see why the paper is trying to prevent this guy from testifying. He may be in trouble for no good reason.

And somebody may have tried to kill him.

 

Basically because he's so fucking fat.

 

I bet Ryan Adams was the person who shot at him.

 

Management needs to be more involved. That is why they are paid more.

The writer should write the story and the editors and publishers deal with the legal ends.

 

My former newspaper handled the possession of what could have been interpreted as illegal material this way: Management got the paper's outside counsel involved, who locked the material in an office safe that only he had access to. So now it's protected by attorney/client privilege. Reporter wrote the story.

But I don't know about making a copy of this tape. Have to watch a couple more Law & Order episodes to research that one.

 

he may be legal jeopardy in a strict sense, but I think a reasonable DA and judge will see it for what it is.

If the guy was sent the tape anonymously, he had no culpability as to its acquisition. I don't think he has anything to worry about unless they held the tape from police to keep the story.

 

I liked DeRogatis' biography of Lester Bangs, "Let It Blurt."

 

isn't that the big wilco guy?

he should go to prison just for giving Sky Blue Sky a good review

 

Fixed.

 

DeRogatis is the Comic Book Guy made flesh.