CHILD PORN - DENNIS MELANSON AND ROBERT NORMAN SMITH GOING FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD TO THE SCUM OF THE EARTH IN A MATTER OF MINUTES!!!!

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This story is going to be a long one. It's a tale about a guy who went from the top of the world to the scum of the earth in a matter of minutes.

I can't used this blog as a series because it's way too much of a touchy issue.

Dennis Melanson is the only guy I was close with who was charge assessing child porn. It was sad to watch a guy go down in front of your very eyes!!!

We all watched the show Melanson Live on Rogers. I was a regular caller to the show.







I even appeared twice as a guest. Dennis was good with the callers or the people who came to his show to discuss issues.







He made them feel very comfortable.

Once I landed in Fredericton in 2003, Dennis Melanson was the only guy I knew in the Capital. Beside a few politicians from Saint John area? I didn't know anyone.







Dennis and I became close friends. He would share his personal stories and I would do the same.

I noticed when I was with the guy in a public event, many people would walk by and tell the Dennis how they loved his show. I would often make a stopover at Rogers and enjoy a few smokes with my friend.








Then came the spring in 2005. I saw Dennis in the afternoon but that same evening he wasn't hosting the show.

The same action during his next program. Two shows in a row? I knew there was something wrong at Rogers.

Dennis droved a taxi for Trius during the day and weekends. I phoned the taxi dispatcher and left a message for Dennis to give me a call?

I quickly got a phone call from Dennis and he told me that he was no longer the television host for Rogers.

I told Dennis that I was going to blog the story.

He politely asked me not to blog the issue.

I gave in and never said a word but being Charles? I was just too darn curious finding out the facts?

The next day, I visited Rogers and had a chat with the producer of the show but I wasn't getting anywhere. Nobody was talking.

The week after, I met with Dennis for coffee and we chatted.

I once again asked him - What happened?

He came close in telling me but change his mind at the last second. I drop the issue and moved on.

During the summer of 2005, 92.3 Fred Fm came to Fredericton and they were looking for someone to read the news on the air.








Dennis got the job!!! He sounded like he was having a good time on the air. I would visit the guy once in a while and met the staff at 92.3 Fred FM. Dennis found life after Rogers and I was glad for him.







I would often see Dennis with his two kids. He would have his kids during the weekend and he loved them. In my eyes, he was a good Dad!!!

In the fall, I hitched a ride from Saint John with a guy who ran his own company. The guy was in his 60s. We began chatting and the issue turned to Dennis Melanson.

He quickly shouted - HE'S A PEDOPHILE!!!

I was surprised to hear such a statement?

I almost took a heart attack. Of all the names to call someone? This is the BIGGY!!!!!!

Well? My ADHD brains were flying overtime!

Dennis a pedophile???

Nahhhhhh!!!! Must a nasty rumor???

But is this the reason he left Rogers??? I knew there was a guy who was jailed for downloading child porn from the office. Would Dennis be involved in that ring?

Nahhhhh.....

I didn't have the guts to face him with these stories so I decided to leave well enough alone!!!

One day, we were driving in his vehicle. I began talking about Dan Reid a radio host from Saint John who was jailed for downloading child porn.

He gave his views but never said a word about his case.

During the spring of 2006, Dennis asked me if I would give him a helping hand in moving his stuff from a mobile home in Lincoln to an apartment in downtown Fredericton.









A crew from 92.3 Fred FM and myself gave Dennis a helping hand. It was a nice place and he was close to his workplace.

I would visit Dennis at his new home and we would chat about different issues. He read my blog almost daily and we had a few good laugh. Especially since I was just arrested in Saint John and the ban from the Legislature.

On July 5 2006, I paid Dennis a visit. It was around 8:30pm.








He looked tired and asked me if I had some cigarettes? I went home and got my friend a few smokes. We chatted till 11:30pm and I decided to call it a night.

Before I left his place? He asked me if I would give him the pills on the table? There were around 5 to 6 bottles and I put the bottles on his coffee table and left the building.

He looked tired when I left him.

The next day, I heard on the news that Dennis Melanson landed in the hospital. The story was in the news with the headline – Former talk show host lands in the hospital.

I knew Dennis was a diabetic so I rushed at the hospital. I wasn't allowed to visit the guy because it was for family members only.

I went home and wrote a blog - My prayers goes to Dennis Melanson!!!

I visited 92.3 Fred FM and noticed a crew of 5 to 6 people hanging together in the hallway.

They stopped chatting once they saw me.

I asked if I could take a picture of Dennis empty seat for my blog? They politely told me it wouldn't be a good idea.

I knew there was something wrong in the atmosphere. There was something that just wasn't right!!!

Little did anyone knew that I would truly find out the next day.

Well? the next morning will be one day that I'll never forget for the rest of my life.

At around 8:00am, I made a coffee and read the comments on my site.

On the blog I wrote about Dennis?

One comment said - Prayers? He's a pervert!!!

I deleted the comment. I found it odd that someone would say that about Dennis?

Minutes later, I was confronted in the rooming house by a couple asking me if Dennis Melanson was still a friend of mine???

They showed me the front page of the Irving's paper - There was a warrant out for the arrest of Dennis Melanson because he didn't appear in court of a charge of accessing child porn!!!

Well???? I didn't need any coffee to wake up that morning. It was equal to ten cups of coffee!!!!!

I must have read the article 10 time over!!!

Dennis? Child porn??? Ohhhh Boyyyy!!!!

My morning wasn't done yet!!!

The blog I wrote about Dennis began receiving lots of comments. Pervert!!! Child molester!!! Sick puppy!!! It just went on and on!!!

I went on an exchanges of emails with some friends asking me to remove the blog!!!!

People were searching on the web for Dennis Melanson and ended up in my blog.








After a huge debate via the information highway, I decided to remove the blog from my site.

One email reminded me that you can be the President of the United States and invade another country halfway across the world but if the President is caught with one photo of child porn?

He's done!!!!

Very serious stuff!!!!

My head was screwed up!!! < Not the first time > I didn't understand what was going on?

I saw a female friend of one guy who helped Dennis move to his new place.

She told me that her boyfriend will never talk to Dennis again. I guess her boyfriend was molested as a child and he can't stand people who would watch child porn photos. So? That friendship was gone forever!!!

Once on the streets, I was approached by Dennis's friends and people from the media who were very close to the former host.








They were sharing their stories of disbeliefs!!!

I was also told that Dennis was fired from his job at 92.3 Fred FM!!! I guess the Police took his computer at work and they found porn on it!!!

Could it be child porn? I wasn't sure but I was going to find out!!!

Everyone including myself wanted to know what was going on????

Fredericton is a small town and the issue was the talk of the day.










I must have chatted about this issue non stop for over one week.

I don't have any kids but I know that getting caught on a child porn charge is a serious one.

I can just imagine the how the parents with kids would feel like?

But I didn't know it was that bad???

It wasn't bad!!! IT WAS WORST!!!!

I soon found out that it didn't matter if the courts found the guy guilty or not guilty?

Society have no time for people like this.

Sort of reminded of the women who were burnt to the death 300 years ago.







If these woman spoke out for their rights? The were label as a witch and that was that!

This was the new witch-hunt and it was a bad one.

I heard a guy was beat up really bad because there was a rumor that he was a pedophile. The guy was in the hospital for over one week. I guess at the end, it was just a rumor and they never found the people who gave the beating.

Keep in mind? There were no verdict on Dennis and this is a country that prides themselves on innocent till proven guilty right?

WRONG!!!

Dennis could be at the Farmer's Market and the manager could come and say - Excuse me Dennis? I don't mind you at all but I had a few complaints from some parents who don't feel comfortable having you around their children. Could you please leave?










All social doors are quickly shut in Dennis face and that is that!!!! Even in a non-guilty verdict? The door will remain shut!!!

TOUT FINI!!!!

I didn't visit Dennis at the hospital but I went and visit his place almost every night so I could find out what's going on???









The stories were getting bad and people would say that they wouldn't be caught dead with Dennis. This one time popular talk host was dirt and that's the way it was.

I also found out that I could be as guilty as Dennis because of my association with the guy.

I was confronted once about this but I quickly put that story to a close. I didn't know anything about his case and that was that!!!

It was so bad that I phoned my Priest to come down for a visit. He just came from a vacation and he didn't know what was going on?










We sat at Officer's Square and I said - Listen? Of all the sins? Child porn is the worst sin of all!!! THIS IS THE BIGGY!!!!

Now? We all know the saying - Innocent till proven guilty and we know who your friends are when you're down. Dennis is a good friend of mine and he's down in the dumps. So what am I suppose to do????

He told me in a nice way - Like it or not? You're a public figure so therefore I should visit Dennis at night.

I suggested that maybe I should wear a black hood???..lol...

I heard that Dennis was getting better and they transfered the guy into a mental ward.

I would knock at Dennis door in the evenings until weeks later, he answered.










He looked cheerful but he soon found out that I wasn't in my normal friendly mood.

I sat down on his sofa chair and said - WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON????

He knew that I meant business!!!

He told me that the charge of assessing child porn was exaggerated. He was doing some research for his show.

I quickly shot back- WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB AT 92.3 FRED FM??? WAS THAT CHILD PORN???

He told me that it was porn sites. Not child porn.

He apologized for the emotion that he put me through.

He added - He had the pills in his hand the evening I knocked at his door on July 5th. He was planning to take all the pills at 8:00pm but I knocked at the door and stayed till 11:30pm.

Once I left his place. He quickly took all the pills and went to bed expecting to die in his sleep.

I might have just saved his life? Who knows? After all this? I believe he would have been better off dead???

I taught to myself, if the guy is not guilty? Why would he tried to commit suicide?

I made myself very clear to Dennis on one issue! If he's found not guilty? I'll stand right by him.

If he's found guilty? I'm going to blog a story- FROM THE TOP TO THE WORLD TO THE SCUM OF THE EARTH IN A MATTER OF MINUTES!!!










I would post the picture of the guy from Scotsman from the commercial of Alexander Keith who was caught with child porn in Toronto. I would put his picture and Dennis side by side.

Dennis did learn something from me? He didn't know the stories on the streets were that bad about him being charge with accessing child porn. He was a little afraid.

I said - You go back to the doctors at the mental ward and say - I just came out and met Charles LeBlanc. I didn't pass the test.

This was a very serious issue and Dennis went back to the mental Ward for more help.

I did learn one thing about the Mental Ward.

They told Dennis that in a 100 years from now? Nothing of this will matter? People in that era wouldn't even know who Dennis Melanson was? It'll be totally forgotten!!!

If you're in trouble with an certain issue? This is a good one to think about. Life can be a rough ride so just ride through it!

He appeared in court and he was fine. They set up a trial date for February 2007.

Dennis stayed inside his place and was a little afraid or full of shame to go outside.

He decided to go outside after staying home for a few days.









On one occasion, he decided that he was going to volunteer for a certain organization. I made the arrangement but I was quickly told – We don't want any pedophile in this area!!!!

That was the end of that idea!!! All this and the guy wasn't found guilty???

Very bad!!!

I remember walking with him on the sidewalk and I didn't feel comfortable walking with Dennis but the guy wasn't found guilty so what do I have to worry about?

He lost his job so therefore he sold his car and bought a bicycle. Big changes was in store for the former talk show host.

Dennis soon found out that social assistant isn't all that fair.

He was paying too much rent to be able to go on welfare. He was force to move into a rooming house.

Would a guy like Dennis survive living in a rooming house?

Good question?

He found a place and I never visited his new home but I guess everything was ok.

The big day arrive for his trial in February 2007. With his luck? The biggest snow storm of the year hit Fredericton and the trial was adjourn till the summer of 2007!

Dennis would have to think about this case every single second, minute, day, weeks and months until the trial ended.

The sad part about this part? Dennis court appearance would hit the local paper and people in the City would be talking about Dennis Melanson all over again!!!!








It was deja vu time!!! I felt bad for Dennis because if he was found not guilty?

Can you imagine? You meet someone and say that your name is Dennis Melanson. He would used to hear – You're the talk show host!!!

These days it would be- Ohhhh you're the guy and leave the area. Very serious stuff!!!

It didn't matter because he truly understood that he was socially screwed anyway!!!

This is where I began asking questions about our Justice system? Should an individual name who's charge in a child porn case only be known after the verdict is read?

Don't they do this down the states?

This is a very serious charge and society will have their own verdict on Dennis.

I bumped into Dennis in the spring and he was doing good. He landed a job at a Call Centre and was happy to work again.











I might add that he joined a Religion and played the part of an actor during a Church play.

I reminded Dennis that I hope he continues to go to Church even after the trial is over.

Every instance someone is in trouble with the law? They turn to God for encouragement.









I would see him outside of his new workplace enjoying a smoke.










Then came the summer of 2007 and the trial was once again adjourn till February 2008 but not before the Irving's took a picture of Dennis and posted his picture on the front page of the Irving's paper.











That same evening Dennis noticed a package in his mailbox. It was from the Call Centre where he was working. He was told that he was fired and gave him a little package.

No verdict came in but the poor guy was fired on the spot anyway!!!

Pretty touchy issue eh???? AND IT SHOULD BE!!!!

But I still remain uncertain of the way the media is naming an individual during a court trial before the verdict is read.

So once again? Dennis lost his job! This time around, he didn't access a porn site in the workplace. His picture was on the front page and the Call Centre said bye bye!!!

You would believe that he would have committed suicide a long time ago? That's the part that was bugging me? Why take all those pills if he wasn't guilty? I still had a problem of researching the net for 4 to 5 months for child porn.

How much time can an individual spent on searching for child porn for a show?

During the trial Danny Watters took the stand and told the Judge that he took all responsibility for what happen?










He told Dennis that it was ok to search for child porn if he doesn't download. Another issue was the destruction of the cd that which houses the pictures.

I found this very strange indeed.

So once again the media covered the trial and Dennis was again in the public eye.









Many comments would be posted in my blog such as – How come you're not posting the comments about your pervert friend Dennis?

I rejected the comments because I wanted to wait to the final verdict from the Judge.

On the day of the verdict, the Judge told the court that he needed more time to reach a verdict. He needed one more week.

Dennis quickly left the Court room and you could tell that he was very upset.

During the hearings, I noticed Dennis was chewing his nails and I might add that his nails were gone. The guy was a wreck!!!!

The day of the verdict. I saw Dennis outside the court room chatting with his lawyer.

I chatted with Dennis for around 10 minutes and he was upbeat.

He told me - Guilty or Not Guilty? I'm going to disappear from the area.

One issue that bothered the guy? The day before it was the birthday of his son.

Dennis haven't seen his kids since this episode started and it bothered him. He heard that his ex-wife and kids moved to Halifax.

It was bad enough that society cut him off but also his family. This is a very serious charge and that's the way it should be but I still say AGAIN that everything should be put to a halt until the verdict is announce by the Judge.

The court room was full and I made a prediction that he would be found not guilty but I had a problem of the amount of months he took for searching for child porn.

How much searching can a person do for a show?

That's the part that was bugging moi.

I predicted this because of the destruction of the evidence and Danny Watters testimony in court? The Judge would read in his statement that Dennis was guilty as hell but he cannot reach that verdict because of the missing evidence.

Once in court, The Judge read his decision and Dennis had his head down in his hands.

Once the Judge told the court that he found Dennis Guilty? I noticed that Dennis had tears in his eyes. It was over!!!

Dennis left the building and that was that!!!

The media once again told the whole world that Dennis Melanson was guilty!!! My prediction was wrong!










Dennis went to the washroom and made his plan to escape the media who had the Justice Building surrounded.





The sentence was set for March 13th! Would Dennis survive? Will he commit suicide? The Justice system has spoken and many people of society have already reach their own conclusion.

I wondered what would the verdict be? Jail time? I don't think so!

I remember one night waiting in my place for my computer. A guy took my little hard drive for repair. There I was sitting down near my computer watching television.

There was the monitor but no computer. I just imagine for a few minutes that I got caught with child porn photos on my computer.

The Police came over and took my computer away.

My story would soon be in the media and my life would be Chaos!!!

I would appear in court and be found guilty.

Now, one verdict which would really hurt me would be if I was told that I couldn't access the internet for 2 to 3 years!!!









I might add there would be no more pictures!!!









Now never mind that the blog would be done? I always read my news on line but the worst part of this verdict is that I don't have a phone and all my connection with friends are made via-emails.

No internet for two to three years would surely drive me nuts!!! I would rather have a short Jail sentence than no access to the information highway!!

Yes, very heavy stuff!!!

March 13th came and I showed up for the verdict.

I chatted with Dennis before the session began. I was surprised when he told me he would get 45 days in jail. That's the minimum for a charge like this one.

I was surprise to hear this! He was heading for jail and he was ready for it!

I noticed a few members of the media wished him good luck. In the past, Dennis would be covering a trial like this one but not this time.

He was the story and he knew it.

The place was full of media. Even students from the Journalism class from St.Thomas was there.





Dennis had his family and friends beside him.

Looking at child porn pictures is a big faux but I didn't know the prosecutor would take it that bad?

The prosecutor told the Judge that Dennis should

1-Jailed for 90 days.

2-Be place on the sex offender list.

3-give a DNA

4-Not be in an area where kids under 14 are present.

5-Not be alone with kids under 14.

6-seek counseling.

7-not have access to the internet for 2 years.









His lawyer presented two letters supportive of Dennis. His Pastor and a former officer of the R.C.M.P.

The Judge told the court that he need another week to make his decision.

I just couldn't believe what I was hearing? This must be the longest trial on record in the Fredericton area.

Dennis quickly left the building and the media once again were waiting outside for the convicted guy.











The story was in all the media and people would once again talk about Dennis Melanson.

He had to wait another week to find out if he would land in jail for 90 days?

I didn't believe he would land in jail because he went through enough already and he didn't download any pictures. I believe he's going to be on probation and no access to the internet for 2 years!!!

I showed up in court and Dennis looked OK.

I chatted with the guy and he described his trail like getting Herpes. You believe it's gone but it comes back!!!

The Judge was stern especially with Rogers or other internet providers. He called the Child Porn sites - An industry. < Lots of money to be made from those sites. >









He couldn't understand why internet companies like Rogers can't block child porn sites?

He told the court that a Jail term is warranted in this case because a message must be sent out to society that this kind of action will not be tolerated by the courts.

This is what CBC wrote on this issue -

Ex-broadcaster in N.B. gets 30-day house arrest on child-porn charge
Last Updated: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 | 12:34 PM AT Comments0Recommend9
CBC News

A former Fredericton broadcaster has been given 30 days house arrest for accessing child pornography on his office computer when he worked at Rogers Television.

Judge Graydon Nicholas found Dennis Melanson, 49, guilty in February.

In his ruling Wednesday, Nicholas said he took into account that Melanson has no criminal record.

Nicholas added Melanson has also suffered emotional distress and public humiliation since being charged, and that he has lost both his family and his job.

The judge spoke at length about the need for internet providers to stop the distribution of child pornography.

Under the terms of his sentence, Melanson will be allowed to leave his home for work, volunteering, counselling, as well as visits to church or hospital.

He will also get five hours a week of "personal time."

After the 30 days, he will be placed on three years' probation.
Judge Nicholas also ordered Melanson to write a letter of apology to his former employer.

When he was charged in 2005, Melanson claimed that the images of children performing sexual acts that were found on his office computer were research for an upcoming story.

A police officer, who had appeared on Melanson's television show on Feb. 23, 2005, testified in provincial court that Melanson had told him he was considering doing a program on child pornography.
Melanson's research could have been considered educational up

until that point, Nicholas told the court in February, but his continued surfing for such images after that date, and after his conversation with the officer, were excessive.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/03/19/melanson-sentence.html



The Judge insisted that Dennis Melanson WASN'T A PEDOPHILE!!!!

I chatted with Dennis after the decision in the hallway and he was glad that it was finally over.

It wasn't quite over yet because the media scrum was waiting for Dennis to leave the building.









The Judge was upset that Dennis didn't had nothing to say after he was found guilty? I asked Dennis why was the reason he didn't say anything?

He just wanted to let the process go in place.

His Lawyer spoke to the media and Dennis left the building with a few close friends.









Yes, it's been a rough three years for the once famous talk show host and it is indeed over.

What does the future holds for Dennis Melanson? Who truly knows?









He understands that he'll have to carry this burden for the rest of his miserable life.

Mind you? The kids who are in the child porn photos are also scarred for life.

Tic for tac you could say?

Will he able to locate a job? I doubt it!

A reunion with his family? That's out the door!

He's done!!!!

Now? The reason I decided to write this personal story is this?

Beside telling Dennis that if he was found guilty? I would blog a story but I never expected the blog to be so big?

If this blog can stop one single person from accessing child porn?

It was well worth the time and effort to write this story.

You can be a powerful individual with lots of connection and money but if you're caught with one single child porn photo? You're done!!!

Is it worth the risk?

Think about it???

Enough said!!!!