Former Ann Arbor News sports reporter Jim Cnockaert sentenced in child pornography case
Jim Cnockaert, a former sports reporter for The Ann Arbor News, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier reported.
Cnockaert also was ordered to pay a $100 fine and serve 10 years of supervised probation, the newspaper reported.
Cnockaert was indicted in January 2009 over an incident that occurred at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in Montana while Cnockaert was sports editor there.
According to the Bozeman newspaper, a Chronicle employee notified supervisors that she saw Cnockaert on a computer in the newspaper's advertising department on a Sunday afternoon. Chronicle managers concluded the computer had been used to view numerous sites that included child pornography, the newspaper reported.
Cnockaert, 54, left The Ann Arbor News in September 2003 after covering the University of Michigan football beat for more than a decade. He joined the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in October 2006.
After he left Montana, Cnockaert became the sports editor of the Bristol Herald Courier in Virginia in August 2008. The article reporting the sentence referred to Cnockaert as a former sports editor at the newspaper.
Comments
15crown00
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
My how far the mighty can fall
kr8tr
Thu, Apr 1, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.
I think the reason they mentioned he was a former employee of the News was in the interest of full disclosure, to thwart any claims of reporting in a biased manner. Most articles you read about this sort of thing DO disclose where the person worked actually, even if it is something like "a local parts manufacturer." We tend to pay attention when it is a place we know, a school, a police officer, etc. In this case, it was a known member of the community.
Old West Sider
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.
That's sad.. I don't know this person but why did you have to mention that he was a former sports writer for the Ann Arbor News, was that really necessary. Do you mention every ones employment or former employment when they are charged with a crime. We'll see,
tracyann
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 8:36 a.m.
I'm sorry but this guy should get more than 3 years. By accessing these websites and looking at these images he is propagating the child porn "industry".
Dave66
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 6:42 a.m.
Using a computer at work, in view of co-workers, to surf porn sites isn't too bright. The IT staff can easily create a detailed report of internet usage. Any computer usage at work is subject to oversight and review. That includes email and attachments, too.
discgolfgeek
Tue, Mar 30, 2010 : 5:18 a.m.
I remember reading his columns and met him once at the football stadium, my impression was he was a decent guy. I hope he doesn't have any kids or a wife. Prisoners don't like child pornographers.
Wolverine3660
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 5:34 p.m.
Sad story. I got to know Jim when he was a sports writer for the A2 News,and I was a U-M athlete in a minor sport. He seemed like he was a stand-up sort of guy, so, I am surprised and saddened to see an old acquaintance get in trouble, over something as nasty and obnoxious as child porn
mstairs
Mon, Mar 29, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.
When I was in 5th grade in 1995 this guy came and talked to our class about journalism. Creepy. I bet they didn't have to ask him twice to visit an elementary school.