July 22--TROY New York-- A state emergency management official wanted in Colorado on Internet sex charges agreed Wednesday to return to that state to face the charges.
Timothy Riecker, 32, of Schodack, accused of using the Internet to develop a relationship with someone he thought was an underage girl, was sought by officials for more than a week when he was arrested Friday. He later checked into Albany Medical Center Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and was arrested Monday upon his release.
"You say you intend to waive extradition?" Rensselaer County Judge Andrew Ceresia asked Riecker on Wednesday morning.
"Yes sir," the man said, flanked by his local attorney, David Brickman.
Riecker then signed extradition paperwork and was sent back to the Rensselaer County Jail to await arrival of authorities from Golden, Colo., who will take him back to that state for arraignment.
Riecker, chief of training and exercises at the New York Office of Emergency Management, has been suspended without pay from his $74,000-a-year position, said SEMO spokesman Dennis Michalski.
Last week, State Police issued a statement saying authorities were looking for Riecker, who was reported to be despondent and threatening to harm himself.
Officials in Jefferson County, Colo., had issued a warrant more than a week ago for his arrest on charges of Internet sexual exploitation of a child.
Riecker allegedly developed a six-month relationship on the Internet with undercover investigator who posed as an underage girl, said Pam Russell, spokeswoman for District Attorney Scott Storey in Golden.
Colorado officials said Riecker repeatedly asked for nude photos and once exposed himself and performed a sex act before a Web camera.
When Riecker was contacted by the Jefferson County DA's office about the allegations, he said "it was a bad decision" and "I can promise you it won't happen again," Russell said.
Riecker faces one count each of Internet sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, Russell said.
Colorado authorities were uncertain when they will travel here to pick up Riecker.
H. Michael's Take
These internet "sting" cases are the result of police officers, men and women, trolling the chat rooms for individuals seeking to meet others. These officers often enter adult chat rooms, hook their prey and reel them in ... The entrapment defense can be raised in these cases (see my page on entrapment law) however these cases -- by their very nature-- are set up to prove in court.
The recent rash of Internet stings in Colorado, conducted by various police departments, introduces a trap - otherwise known as a young girl looking for company - in a chatroom, and lures the unsuspecting young males into a personal meeting with the provocative assumedly 14-year old girl after several hours over many days of chatting online.
The undercover agent is most often a seasoned male or female police officer. The tone of the conversation is nothing short of "enticing erotica."
In my 26 years as a Colorado Criminal Law attorney, I've never seen methods quite like this used before. All potential defenses to the charges, including entrapment and outrageous government conduct.
Who Gets Stung?
Studies show that the majority of arrests resulting from Internet stings fashioned in a manner similar to those being conducted in Colorado are of white thirty-something year old home-owning males with incomes of at least $73,000 per year.
Interestingly enough that is the exact same profile of the most frequent user of the Internet and the source of the majority of Internet commerce.
If you have been arrested for an Internet sex crime or you believe you may be under investigation by the police for an Internet sex crime, get immediate legal help. Contact us your freedom may be at stake.
The penalties for any sex crime are severe, especially if you must register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. But the personal costs of an Internet sex crimes charge can be just as serious as the criminal costs. It is embarrassing and harmful to family and marriage. If your job requires professional licensure, a security clearance, or involves children, you may lose your job. You may not be allowed to live within a certain distance of a daycare, playground, or school. Even high school kids can be convicted of Internet sex crimes and placed on the sex offender registry.
At The Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lw Firm we understand how difficult and stressful this is. We tackle your case aggressively but with discretion and sensitivity. Our goal is to minimize the negative consequences of the Internet sex crime charge or conviction and to get the best possible outcome, given the facts of your case.
