Name: Protesters blast ‘deplorable’ $5K bail set for ex-Harrisburg Councilman Brad Koplinski in child porn case
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Protesters blast ‘deplorable’ $5K bail set for ex-Harrisburg Councilman Brad Koplinski in child porn case

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NEW!122sharesIs the $5,000 unsecured bail imposed on former Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski for his 15 felony child pornography charges fair, or even justifiable?Community activist Kevin Maxson and about a dozen like-minded supporters don’t think so. They showed their displeasure Monday afternoon by demonstrating outside the South 29th Street office of District Judge Hanif Johnson, the official who set that bail.“It’s horrible. It’s deplorable,” Maxson said as motorists drove by, occasionally honking at the demonstrators and the signs they displayed. “Why does he get a pass when he held public office?”By contrast, he said, others charged with drug possession and nonviolent offenses often see their bail set in the tens of thousands of dollars or higher. The Koplinski bail situation sets a bad, hypocritical example for the community, Maxson said.It is especially galling that Johnson made Koplinski’s bail unsecured, Maxson said. That means Koplinski was freed from custody without having to pay a cent. His bail would only come due if he violates a court directive, such as missing a hearing.“Our children are worth more than $5,000 unsecured bail,” one demonstrator said. Others carried signs bearing slogans including, “The blood of our children is on your hands” and “Why is bail higher for drug possession than it is for child porn?”Johnson’s office was locked during the protest. The lights were off and no one seemed to be moving around inside.Koplinski, 51, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2014, He served on city council for eight years before losing a re-election bid in 2015.Authorities said Koplinski came under investigation in March when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children detected uploads of child porn images at an online address registered to Koplinski’s wife. Investigators said Koplinski admitted he uploaded the material.Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo declined comment on the issue of Koplinski’s bail.State bail guidelines require bond setters to consider multiple factors in choosing an amount. Those factors include the nature of the offense and the potential punishment for a conviction. The defendant’s financial status and ability to pay are on the list as well. So is the defendant’s age, character, reputation and mental health and whether the person is addicted to alcohol or drugs.Defendants are to be evaluated regarding whether they are flight risks. Judges also are supposed to consider whether the defendants have followed court directives and appeared for hearings in other prior criminal cases.Koplinski has prior cases.He was placed in Philadelphia County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Program, which allows nonviolent offenders to avoid criminal records, after being charged with burglary for stealing a press pass and illegally entering a building at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Police said he tried to take some parking passes and food vouchers.Koplinski also was charged with driving under a suspended license in 2016 and pleaded guilty to failing to report earned income taxes in 2009Bail can be modified during subsequent court proceedings. Koplinski’s next scheduled court appearance is a preliminary hearing on the child porn charges before District Judge Barbara Pianka on Oct. 7.Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

NEW!122sharesIs the $5,000 unsecured bail imposed on former Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski for his 15 felony child pornography charges fair, or even justifiable?Community activist Kevin Maxson and about a dozen like-minded supporters don’t think so. They showed their displeasure Monday afternoon by demonstrating outside the South 29th Street office of District Judge Hanif Johnson, the official who set that bail.“It’s horrible. It’s deplorable,” Maxson said as motorists drove by, occasionally honking at the demonstrators and the signs they displayed. “Why does he get a pass when...

Protesters blast ‘deplorable’ $5K bail set for ex-Harrisburg Councilman Brad Koplinski in child porn case

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