Originally Posted - July 25, 2006

return home

MINEOLA---Conducting an allegedly sexually-explicit conversation over America Online's (AOL) Instant Messaging servie with an investigator with the Nassau County district attorney's office will get you arrested.

Scott Widom, 44, has been charged with two counts of attempted disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree, a class E felony.

The arrest stemmed from an AOL IM conversation from March. Widom was arrested Sunday night while appearing at a pre-arranged meeting location in Nassau County. At the time of his arrest, Nassau County District Attorney investigators say they did not find anything in his possession consistent with engaging in sexual activity that evening.

A person is guilty of attempted disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree when knowing the character and content of the communication which, in whole or in part, depicts actual or simulated nudity or sexual conduct, and which is harmful to minors, he intentionally uses any computer communication system allowing the input, output, or examination or transfer, of computer data or computer programs from one computer to another, to initiate or engage in such communication with a person who is a minor; and by means of such communication he importunes, invites, or induces a minor to engage in sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct or anal sexual performance, obscene sexual performance, or sexual conduct for his benefit.

Prosecutors say Widom consented to a search of his residence, an upstairs apartment in Mineola. DA Investigators seized his personal computer and dozens of compact discs, which are being analyzed. He is employed as a delivery and counter person at the Roslyn Kosher Foods Deli in Albertson. 7-25-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette