Ex-CAP leader asks for trial in child porn case
Civil Air Patrol
The Civil Air Patrol is a trained group of teenagers and adults who, if called on by the state emergency management office or local law, can assist in search and rescue missions for aircraft and people and assess damage from natural disasters.
The patrol conducts aerial photography, establishes communications and uses ground teams to accomplish missions.
Photo 
Michael Curry
ELKHORN — A former commander of the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol this week asked for a jury trial to defend himself against five criminal counts of possessing child pornography found on computers taken from his Delavan home.
Michael A. Curry, 54, has resigned from the Civil Air Patrol. He had more than a 40-year association with the group, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. His last assignment was with the Racine squadron, according to the patrol's website.
A person at the Curry home said by telephone Thursday that the defendant had resigned from the Civil Air Patrol. The person refused to provide further information. Other Civil Air Patrol officials could not be reached for comment.
According to various Walworth County court records:
While examining the computer's e-mails and attachments, investigators identified five images of children engaged in sex acts. Also found were pictures of Civil Air Patrol cadets.
The criminal complaint against Curry did not suggest the cadets' images were inappropriate.
Also found were receipts for materials purchased from websites called theincest.com, purenudism.com and "Lolitas Love."
One site sent an e-mail thanking the recipient for becoming part of its growing network, and the username used on the porn sites was "sirmack."
An investigation into Curry began Sept. 16, 2009, when police in Caledonia executed a search warrant at his Delavan home. A Delavan police detective assisted in serving the warrant.
Curry answered the front door and told investigators he was a 40-year member of the Civil Air Patrol.
The Caledonia detective confiscated computers from Curry's home and took them to the state Division of Criminal Investigation in Madison. The agency found the illegal images and the images of Civil Air Patrol cadets. Two videos of nude and partially nude female minors also were found.
It's unclear how Caledonia police came to believe child porn was on the computers in Curry's home.
On Jan. 14, police questioned Curry's wife and another woman who lived at the couple's home. Both said they had never accessed or viewed any kind of pornographic images on any of the computers in the home.
Michael Curry has pleaded not guilty to each of the five charges. He is free on a signature bond. As a condition of bond, Curry cannot have contact with anyone younger than 18.
The three-day jury trial is scheduled to start Feb. 28 before Walworth County Judge Robert Kennedy.
Each charge carries a prison term of up to 25 years and a maximum fine of $100,000.
Court documents indicate a tentative plea agreement was offered, stating that if Curry pled guilty to one count of possessing child porn, the other four would be dropped and attorneys for both sides would be free to argue what they believe would be appropriate punishment.
