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[Blaise (imported)]

I copied this from an MSN Group on FGM.

LOS ANGELES -- A man accused of offering to perform female circumcision on two children was denied bail Tuesday after a prosecutor said the government is considering seeking his indictment on a child porn charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Aveis said Todd Cameron Bertrang -- a 41-year- old Canyon Country, Calif., resident arrested Friday -- could face a child pornography production charge, which could give him reason to flee if he is released pending trial.

Authorities allege that Bertrang, who has a website devoted to piercing, offered in 2002 to perform circumcision on the fictional 8- and 12-year-old daughters of an undercover FBI agent. During the procedure, which is often associated with African cultures, part of the genitalia is removed.

In what prosecutors have said is the first case of its kind in the United States, Bertrang and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Robyn Faulkinbury, are charged with conspiring to perform the procedure on a minor. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison.

In court Tuesday, Aveis said Bertrang may be charged for alleged child porn that authorities say was found on a laptop during a search in December 2002. It was unclear whether the laptop belonged to Bertrang or someone else, and Aveis said related information was filed under seal.

Bertrang also could face a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Six guns were found at his house in spite of his prior conviction for perjury, Aveis said. That stems from a false statement on a driver's license application, according to Bertrang's attorney. In addition, Bertrang has an outstanding warrant for his arrest on a state fraud charge, the prosecutor said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle ruled there is too little information in the record to show that Bertrang is not a danger to the community or a flight risk. She ordered Bertrang detained and set arraignment for Feb. 2, provided he has been indicted by then.

Bertrang's attorney, Gary Kast, argued that although Bertrang is involved in piercing, it is against his convictions "to impose this on anybody," especially a minor.

In a statement read by his attorney, Bertrang said two FBI agents pretending to be an Egyptian woman and her American husband kept trying to get him to agree to perform circumcision despite his refusal.

"I kept telling them it was a federal crime and wrong ... I refused them for 14 months. I never agreed to any such thing and have never done such a thing," he stated.

"The FBI woman, claiming to be Egyptian royalty, even yelled at me, claiming 'It's my right as a wife and a mother. It's my children, if I want them cut, I can have them cut.'"

He calls the case "an extremist Christian right crackdown on the alternative sex and ... S&M lifestyle."

Kast said the government has been investigating the case since 2002 without finding a victim.

"From 2002 to today, they have nothing," he said. "The threat to the community is in their minds, rather than the realities."

According to an affidavit filed in the case, the FBI began investigating after receiving a tip from a woman who believed Bertrang performed circumcision on a girl who was 10 or 11.

The affidavit states Bertrang wrote in an e-mail to an FBI agent that the benefits of the procedure are look and feel, though it could scar the fictional girls emotionally and sexually "in their mind."

Authorities allege Faulkinbury assisted Bertrang -- who is not licensed to practice medicine in California -- in surgical procedures.

During the meeting between Bertrang and the undercover agent, Faulkinbury handed over four notebooks showing photographs Bertrang said were of piercings and genital modifications he had done, the affidavit states.

A woman who was at the house that day told agents later that Bertrang removed parts of her genitalia, according to the affidavit. She said he also performed a "large-gauge" nipple piercing, the document states.

Faulkinbury did not seek bail, Aveis said.

[radar (imported)]

...(Bertrang)

calls the case "an extremist Christian right crackdown on the alternative sex and ... S&M lifestyle." .....

Irrespective of his guilt or innocence in this case, Bertrang damages his credibility by trying to lay the blame for this at the feet of the Christian Right. Whatever their faults, they don't go about conjuring up dark conspiracies to frame those they consider to be on the fringes of society. That's just not their style. Rather, this is vastly more likely to be a simple case of an over-zealous FBI agent, lashing out at some personal demons.

[A-1 (imported)]

Bad Karma...

I believe that there are two chances out of five that they find a woman to turn states evidence on him.

A-1

[Riverwind (imported)]

Well those of us who know Todd could see this comming from way off. He has been out of control for years. Being the leading edge and going over it are two different things. I have talked to Todd many times and he is a predator plan and simple. I dont wish him ill, but I also dont think he will find much support.

River

[Blaise (imported)]

I don't know the man. I have read his posts here and there. It's hard to believe that he would be dumb enough to operate on children. He must know that he has set himself up as a target. In his posts, he defines himself as a predator, but not a damm fool. On the other hand, Federal prosecutors may find a former client to turn on him.

[A-1 (imported)]

Well,

River is right.

For the life of me I do not understand why he cut Robin's clit and labia minora off. I mean,,,

I just do not understand...

A-1