Raleigh Photographer Indicted on Child Sex Charges

Raleigh, N.C. — A grand jury indicted a Raleigh photographer Monday on child sex charges, and police say there could be more victims.

Raleigh police charged Ted Booker with one count of taking indecent liberties with a 3-year-old girl at his studio in 2006. He was also charged with statutory rape and taking indecent liberties with a 10-year-old girl in the late 1980s. That alleged victim recently came forward to authorities.

Booker, who said on his Web site that he photographed children at the Artistic Image Studio in North Raleigh, has been ordered by a judge to stay away from children as a condition of his $50,000 bond.

Investigators said that with the two cases happening so far apart, they believe there is a good chance there are other victims.

“The incident that occurred in 2006 was something that occurred at his place of business,” said Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue. “A lot of time has transpired, so we're very interested in finding out whether there have been other instances involving this same suspect.”

“(Sex offenders) don't rape just one time. They continually do it until they're caught,” said Shawnta Wright, who is a sexual assault counselor with INTERACT of Wake County.

“I think parents need to be aware that sexual assault does happen to children, and they need to be talking to their kids about good-touch, bad-touch,” Wright said.

Sughrue said investigators on the case have urged people to come forward if they have information about any other allegations against Booker.

Booker and his attorney declined to comment to WRAL Monday evening.

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I'm a 59 year old woman who would have to charge my step-father if he were still alive even though the molestations happened 50-55 years ago. Back then we could not do anything about our molesters, but now we can and feel compelled to do so to save other children from the same fate. These men do not quit. Be assured of that.

shaig
May 2, 2007 8:58 a.m.

When things like this happen, there are always four things I hold up for inspection.

1. According to FBI statistics, there are less than 300 stranger abductions of children per year. It is extremely rare, yet many mothers live in a panic that their kid will be snatched off the street at any moment. And of course the assumption will also be that it is a man who does the abduction.

2. 4,000 women per year are killed by their spouses or boyfriends. And 4,000 men per year are killed by their spouses or girlfriends. Sexes are split 50-50 and the evil they do is at parity. Pretty different than what feminists want you to believe.

Three. Feminists have a long track record of lying, fabricating statistics, and avoiding the truth in order to advance their agenda. As well as make a living on the fear of others.

And four, overwhelmingly most claims made by children of rape, incest, and sexual contact are completely false. The same holds true for rape claims made by women.

Steve Crisp
May 1, 2007 8:00 p.m.

Steve Crisp: "So let me see if I have this correct."

Actually, you don't. Some of the details you recapped are wrong. But regardless of that, I see what you mean about a statute and memory, even if it's 20 years as opposed to 30. I wouldn't make it a man vs. woman thing, either. Could be either gender accusing either gender.

yacs
May 1, 2007 3:36 p.m.

So let me see if I have this correct.

A 40 year old woman makes the claim that when she was 10 (30 years ago) a man had sex with her. Based on her word alone, that man is arrested and must defend the charge. He has absolutely no way of providing an alibi after that length of time. It becomes his word against hers. If that is all the evidence there is, then how do you get a conviction? It seems that the whole purpose of a charge is to ruin someone's life without due process.

And we all know how faulty memory can be, particularly when a childhood memory is involved.

A statute of limitations on these cases is needed and needed now. Anything less leaves every man fully exposed to the lunatic ravings of any woman he happened to grow up with.

Steve Crisp
May 1, 2007 3:26 p.m.

My Wife , I and our 1 year old daughter just finished up a year long pictures session (3, 6, 9, 12 month picuters) We were in his studio about 2 weeks ago. Ted was never alone with our daughter at anytime. We were always in the studio where the picutres were being taken and He always seem to want us there. I am still waiting on a few picturs from him, I wounder if I will get them now... I am not sure what to think.

benfolds
May 1, 2007 2:39 p.m.