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    • Porn Suspect Commits Suicide Save Email Print
    Warrant issued after failure to appear
    Posted: 2:23 PM May 22, 2008
     Last Updated: 7:45 PM May 22, 2008
    24 comments
    A | A | A

    A heartland man facing trial on two child pornography charges apparently committed suicide Thursday when authorities showed up at his home.

    Thirty-one-year-old Paul Sakalauskas missed a federal court appearance Wednesday.

    On Thursday morning, Metro Fugitive Task Force members attempted to serve a warrant issued through the United States Marshal Service at 3139 “W” Street.

    The Deputy Marshals knocked on the door and heard what they thought was a gunshot from inside the house.

    Omaha Police Lieutenant Darci Tierney says, "Once the scene was secured they went up to the door and did knock again and announced themselves. This time a party did come to the door and let the officers in. Once the officers were in the house they found the party deceased."

    The federal warrant was issued for failure to appear when the victim failed to appear in court on May 21, 2008 for receipt and distribution of child pornography and for possession of child pornography.

    Conviction on the pornography charges could have carried penalties of up to 30 years in prison, $500,000 in fines and a lifetime on supervised release.
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    Posted by: Alli Location: omaha on May 27, 2008 at 01:58 PM
    wow whoever thinks that he was a victim is just as crazy as he was and discusting i am sorry but just because you had it rough does not give you the right to do it to others that is the problem with AMERICA you all come up with diffrent syndromes and diseases for every little thing that occurs in life...grow up and take life by the horns we all have choices
    Posted by: ... Location: Omaha on May 27, 2008 at 01:02 PM
    The news never tells the whole story. They tell what sells ads. The family has enough to deal with. I wish people were not so quick to judge. Maybe he was depressed and saw no way out. Maybe he did not want to be marked for life wrongly accused. As far as porn is concerned, it is not the same as rape of a minor. I would also like to know how do they know it was a child he was after, maybe it was only supposed to be adult porn? Assumptions were made by the media and the public, I believe it is time to let the family be. The victims are many when you consider those left behind to try to understand why. Please pray for all those mourning and for Paul to find peace.
    Posted by: Beth Location: Omaha on May 26, 2008 at 08:52 AM
    I feel sorry for the family of this man. If you look at the crime child molestation now has a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years per offense. I am sorry that I have no remorse of the suspect; killing himself saved the taxpayers money for the trail and his life in prison.
    Posted by: Fake Name Location: Omaha on May 25, 2008 at 07:56 PM
    To Adam: "..reform these ultra harsh child porn laws."... Are you serious?! The punishment is extremely leniant for the crime. You are also minimizing the crime committed. It's not like "saving images to your computer" are just any images. This is absolutely disgusting what these people are doing. This is not any different than the act of physically sexually abusing children! They are still violating these innocent children every time they look at their pictures. These type of people are EXACTLY the type that SHOULD be in prison. And be in prison for ALOT longer. If not for life! The victims are the children! Not the digusting pukes that decide to off themselves when they are caught. All I got out of this story is there is one less predator out there hurting innocent children. Wish the rest of them would do the same thing before acting out their disgusting fantasies.
    Posted by: Reality Check Location: Omaha on May 25, 2008 at 10:41 AM
    Every time a curious person (or a pervert)views child pornography, they are exploiting that child over and over again. I hate people who rationalize child pornography or somehow think it is less serious than the actual abuse itself.
    Posted by: Jimbo Location: Omaha on May 24, 2008 at 10:48 PM
    I feel sorry for the family for their loss. But definately NOT for the sicko himself. Screw loose or not, this guy was disgusting! How are you wrongfully accused of something like this? He was not only viewing these images, but sending them out too? And by the way, the punishment is NOTHING like the 7 years for each image as previously mentioned. 3-7 years is probably average. I've worked in the prison system and the punishment itself is a joke in my opinion.
    Posted by: biggman on May 23, 2008 at 10:22 PM
    sorry i just can't stand this. Child PORN come on that is sick and wrong. He may have made a mistake and a big one at that but i have little remorse on this.
    Posted by: MAndi Degner Location: Omaha on May 23, 2008 at 03:49 PM
    I am so sorry it is sad He was my cousin And I loved him I hope he is in peace. Its so painful to lose someone who was so dear GOD BLESS ALL who new him.
    Posted by: Aldona Ofert- Sakalauskas Location: Omaha on May 23, 2008 at 03:39 PM
    rest in peace pauly, hang in there pete, pat mary,I love you all so much.I"m here for you, you were a good guy. aunt aldona ofert sakalauskas
    Posted by: RJ Location: Omaha on May 23, 2008 at 03:14 PM
    TO:"Good" Are you happy about someone killing themselves? If so, perhaps you have a bigger problem than the guy in this story. I hope you get help.
    Posted by: The Original Cop Location: Omaha on May 23, 2008 at 02:54 PM
    Kimberly how do you get wrongfully accused of possessing child porn? You either have the pictures or you don't. They are either on your computer or they are not. You don't get arrested for possession based on faulty witness testimony or poorly obtained DNA or other forensic evidence. Just wondering.
    Posted by: Anonymous on May 23, 2008 at 02:31 PM
    Wrongfully accused? If he was wrongfully accused why would he take his own life. Maybe he realized he made some horrible choices and couldn't live with them! I don't know, but if it were me and i was wrongfully accused I would have been in court to prove my innocence!
    Posted by: Adam Location: Omaha on May 23, 2008 at 02:09 PM
    This nation needs to reform these ultra harsh child porn laws. Yes, child porn should be illegal, but we need to have a punishment that fits the crime. In Nebraska, you can get sentenced to 7 years for EACH image that is found and have a felony for each; obviously federal law is much tougher. This penalty will probably increase once this state adopts the Adam Walsh act. This is not the first time this type of suicide has happened. People who agree that this type of sentence is fair for saving images to your computer need to have their head examined.
    Posted by: Tonya Location: Bellevue on May 23, 2008 at 01:59 PM
    He faced UP TO 30 years, with no certainty that he would be found guilty. Its not like he was being sentenced to life in prison or death penalty, so why would he think it was worth ending his life over? I thought the same thing when that Madame killed herself a few weeks ago, and she was likely only going to spend 8 years behind bars. Is it worth killing yourself and going to hell for? I don't think so. My prayers are with his family and hopefully his soul will be saved because he was not in his right mind at the time.
    Posted by: Reality Location: Omaha on May 23, 2008 at 01:10 PM
    To Kimberly: It is tragic that he killed himself instead of facing up to the charges. Wrongfully accused, no. Tragic, yes.
    Posted by: Stan Location: Atlantic on May 23, 2008 at 11:17 AM
    Sad? RIP? I think it's probably a good thing because he faced these charges for one of the MOST DISGUSTING things...CHILD PORN! What a sicko. Besides, he was probably afraid of what would've happened to him in prison.
    Posted by: The Col. Location: omaha on May 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM
    It seems that often these people who are addicted to child pornography were sexually abused when they were children and are acting on impulses that they can't control. In that sense, they are victims as well and should be given professional treatment and not put in a prison for 30 years for looking at a picture.
    Posted by: S Location: South O on May 23, 2008 at 10:10 AM
    God bless Paul's family and friends.
    Posted by: Kimberly Location: Iowa on May 23, 2008 at 09:47 AM
    I grew up knowing Paul. He was a good kid. Paul was wrongfully accused. And now he is gone. I am so sad for his family. I've known his family for so many years and they are all great people. I love you guys. Paul....Rest in Peace...
    Posted by: GOOD! Location: omaha on May 23, 2008 at 08:23 AM
    Too bad, so sad!!
    Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 09:12 PM
    Hum...I do not feel sad about this. He was not a good guy. One less pair of eyes viewing child porn is fine by me.
    Posted by: Bill Location: Lincoln on May 22, 2008 at 06:54 PM
    RIP Paul Sakalauskas
    Posted by: Right... on May 22, 2008 at 05:20 PM
    Mike Govig, a softball coach for Papio, was arrested with LOTS more porn than this guy & a subscription to an online child porn site & he only got 5 years...so Mr. Paul Sakalauskas really had no reason to worry. He probably would have served no jail time at all. It just goes to show how not seriously the judges take this.
    Posted by: South Omaha on May 22, 2008 at 04:44 PM
    Sad.
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