-------------from the Arizona Republic----------------------
Christopher J. Wilson
Courtesy of Robert Campos
By Cecilia Chan
The Republic |
azcentral.com
Wed Jan 9, 2013 7:27 PM
Christopher J. Wilson spends his days pacing, reading and thinking about his life.
“I focus on what kind of life I have and what kind of future I have,
which is pretty much non-existent,” Wilson says. “My life is over. Every
day I think about it.”
Since his Aug. 7 arrest, the former Phoenix police officer spends his
day in a 12-foot by 7-foot cell, facing 10 felony counts of sexual
conduct with two underage boys. The Arizona Republic does not name
victims of sexual crimes.
Wilson is housed alone for his protection in the administrative
segregation unit of Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix. He is confined to his
cell 23 hours a day, only allowed outside for an hour a day to a small
recreation yard, where he says he looks at the freedom he used to have.
“What I want the public to know about me is I am not a monster as the
media is portraying me,” said Wilson, who spent his 44th birthday in
jail. “I didn’t use my position to groom these individuals. I am just a
normal person, trying to live my life.”
Wilson is accused of having two sexual encounters with a 17-year-old
and once with a 14-year-old boy. Wilson worked as a liaison to the
Valley's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and met his
accusers through his job, police has said.
Wilson, who is openly gay, was a 14-year veteran with the Phoenix
Police Department receiving glowing annual reviews from his supervisors.
Wilson said he chose law enforcement because he loved serving the
community. He also served four years in the U.S. Navy and a brief stint
as a detention officer with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Wilson told The Republic on Wednesday that he “wasn’t big into the gay scene,” drinking alcohol or going to gay bars.
Instead, Wilson, who’s had steady boyfriends, preferred mountain hiking or catching a movie with friends.
According to court records, the mother of the 14-year-old boy learned of the encounter and contacted the authorities.
The family of the 14-year-old has since filed a $10 million notice of
claim, the first step toward a lawsuit, against the Phoenix Police
Department, Wilson and Assistant Chief of Police Tracy Montgomery.
It alleges that the department and Montgomery were negligent in the
supervision of Wilson, which resulted in the “sexual molestation” of the
14-year-old, who is traumatized.
City spokeswoman Toni Maccarone said the claim is under review and could not comment further.
Wilson said he was not a boyfriend or dated the older boy, who was living on his own.
Wilson said he did buy three suits and shirts for the older boy for
work because someone had done the same for him when he was a struggling
police reservist in Colorado.
“I did this out of my own good will,” said Wilson, who added he didn’t expect anything in return. “We were just friends.”
His attorney Robert Campos would not let Wilson discuss any specifics about the allegations.
Though Wilson acknowledged to police he knew both boys were underage
and took the blame, Campos said Wilson neither admits or denies the
allegations.
He also said that Wilson’s statements to police during his interrogation may not be admissible but declined to go into detail.
During Wednesday’s interview, Campos hinted at the strategy he might pursue to defend Wilson in court.
Campos characterized the two boys as “young adults” who have some
culpability, not victims. Campos painted the two boys as far more mature
than their age and experienced in relationships with older men.
Campos said the encounter, although unlawful, was one of mutual
consent. He said the media have portrayed Wilson as a pedophile going
after young children or grooming them a long time for sex.
“Certainly that is not the case here,” Campos said.
Instead, “it appears from our perspective (the two boys) set this up”
and “they had already in their minds the potential of having some kind
of relationship with my client,” he said.
Campos said Wilson was not blaming the victims but “he is saying they aren’t blameless.”
“My client used poor judgment,” Campos said. “And he was quite
cooperative with the authorities but cooperation does not equate with
justice in our system and that is a huge problem.”
Wilson says he regrets what has happened.
“I would have done things different,” he said. “Losing everything that I love hurts.”
.JPG)
