Michael J. Alexander kept his child porn in a folder labeled “Segafredo.”
Hearing the name of that long-dead Plaza nightclub was the only real surprise during the former ad executive’s appearance in federal court today. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and shackles, Alexander faced Federal Judge Nanette Laughrey and pleaded guilty to nine counts of receiving child pornography over the Internet.
Alexander, 44, was described as a “Brookside socialite” when he was arrested on October 14, 2006. He was a regular at J.J.’s wine bar near the Plaza and showed up in society-page pictures of annual black-tie events such as Jazzoo. The ad exec for Big City Marketing was known for hosting regular fundraising events at his bachelor pad at 62nd Street and Morningside Drive (which was featured on the Morningside Neighborhood Association’s homes tour in 2006). The way the Neighborhood Association described it, “The owner of this spacious 1929 home has turned this home in to a show-house worthy of the best guests…. A rare find in Brookside!”
I’d been to parties at that house. It looked as though he’d furnished it with the gifts from a hundred bachelor parties. There were '20s-era pinup girls all over his guest bathroom and towels embroidered with little martini glasses. His friends were paunchy, middle-aged guys with gorgeous blond women on their arms, the kind of guys who smoked cigars and had seats in the hot-tub section of Arrowhead stadium.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2006, an ex-girlfriend of Alexander’s showed up at Kansas City, Missouri, Police Headquarters and gave this statement: “I was contacted by [MM] saying there might be some videotapes of me at Michael’s house. He said Michael may have videotaped me without my consent. Then Mark gave me Michael’s current girlfriend’s phone number and said we should talk. I contacted [ES] who told me she had found a hidden camera in Michael’s bedroom. She pushed some buttons and viewed videotapes, women nude and women having sex with him. She also viewed a tape of me. She hasn’t met me but Mark described what I looked like and I described what I looked like. She said the videotape she saw of me I was nude but she did not watch the entire video to see if we were having sex.”
Court documents say that the KCPD’s Tactical Response Team broke through Alexander’s door with a battering ram the night of October 14, 2006, and encountered Alexander. An officer told Alexander to get down three times, finally shoving him to the ground when he didn’t comply. They found cameras aimed at Alexander’s backyard pool and hot tub and also in his bedroom closet, hidden under a baseball cap and pointed at the bed.
While searching the premises, they found photos printed from a Web site showing underage girls in provocative poses. “Government’s Exhibits 7 and 31 consist of photographs of what appear to be juveniles naked that were recovered from defendant’s residence,” court documents read. Police seized Alexander’s home and work computers and, after obtaining search warrants, found more photos and learned that Alexander had given his credit card number to an online child-porn club and been invited to join at least one more.
Alexander told police at the time of his arrest that his photos were “art” and were “inspiring,” and also that “sometimes it’s hard to tell a girl from a woman.” Today in court, some of the girls in the photos were described as “prepubescents.” Alexander told judge Laughrey, “I guess what I’m saying is they [the girls in the photos] weren’t having sex.”
“But you do understand that they were engaged in what is considered sexually explicit conduct?” Laughrey asked him.
"Yes," he replied.
Laughrey then ordered a presentencing investigation; presumably, Alexander will be sentenced later this year. He could face five to ten years of jail time for each of the nine counts of child porn; Laughrey can choose whether to set those to run concurrently or consecutively – the latter would mean a long wait before Alexander’s next Jazzoo.
As he was led out of the courtroom, Alexander lifted his shackled arms to wave at an elderly man in the gallery. It sounded like he said, “See ya, Dad.” – Nadia Pflaum
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X-Lady,
I hope you are not refering to me as being sick! Those of us that have known Mike since grade school are shocked and do not condone what he has done. But we didn't meet him in a bar and have a hard time believing that this is the Mike that we know. Maybe with your three girls - you should stay out of the bars yourself. Maybe then you won't meet slimballs!
Finally, an article that explains to all the small minded people all of the sick stuff this freak was in to. All of you who are friends with him and are supporting him are sick too. I have 3 daughters and I'm really creeped out. I guess my first impression of the guy was right. My friend introduced me to him at a bar and the first words out of my mouth was that I thought he was a slimball. But my friend thought she knew him a little better and I gave him the benifit of the doubt. Shame on me for not making her see what I saw. I hope he rots in jail, too bad he can't be with gen. pop. in the clink!!! BURN SCUMBAG!!!!
I've known Mike for most of my life and the child porn doesn't make sense to me. I believe his "newer" friends didn't really care about him, just the party that goes on around him. Where are they now?
Actually, Michigan Jayhawk, you're right: he may have the opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea if an appeals court grants him a motion to suppress evidence that his lawyers claim was gathered improperly.
The Star story kind of explains it, here:
http://www.kansascity.com/115/...
I wonder if his defense will end up in the supreme court because it does sound unusual that the Police were so responsive to some girlfriends' complaints. I am glad they were, don't get me wrong, but it does seems fishy.
I applaud these women for coming foward and getting the system involved. I just hope the system didn't screw up.
Spying on women in this type of situation, is all about control - not sex -- it's about power and violation --just like rape.
The child pornography is a horrible, horrible crime and does not need any other insights written here.
The sad thing is, those of us who have been acquainted with Mike for over 20 years knew something was off when it came to his attitudes and behaviors in his relationships with women - but not THIS off.
Too bad all his so called friends were pathetic sicophants who fueled his sickness. I am sure he shared his library with them. Hopefully they are feeling shame, remorse, regret and seeking counseling.
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