Christmas Brings Freedom and Hope for Jailed BitTorrent Admin
Written by enigmax on December 26, 2007After 2005 FBI raid, sk0t, the admin of EliteTorrents, was arrested and subsequently jailed. After serving his time he was fitted with an ankle monitor which restricted his movement when released. This Christmas, sk0t got a great gift - he was allowed to remove his digital shackle. He talks to TorrentFreak.
Most people in the BitTorrent community know about EliteTorrents. After falling foul of the newly introduced Family Entertainment Copyright Act, the site was raided by the FBI, resulting in a few arrests. Sadly, a few people went to jail because they were involved in the uploading of the pre-released Star Wars Episode III, even though movie insiders say that pre-release piracy has little effect on box office takings.
One of those who came to grief was sk0t - aka Scott McCausland - who pleaded guilty - an admission which earned him 5 months in jail and 5 months home confinement. As part of the home punishment, Scott was required to wear an ankle bracelet which monitored his movements. Fitted on July 19th 2007, the bracelet enforced the terms of his release: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 21:00 he was free to do as he pleased. Weekends were more restrictive - freedom was allocated between 08:30 to 17:00. Freedom - proper freedom - was 5 long months away.
Eventually the day had arrived to remove the bracelet. Scott told TorrentFreak:
“On December 19th, I was allowed to, personally, remove my ankle monitor. After 5 months of curfews, and missed occasions, I am now allowed to partake in all the benefits this free world has to offer. After 5 months in prison, and another 5 months on home confinement, I have just one obstacle left: my 1.5 years years left of probation.”
After a couple of years of ruined festivities for Scott, things are really looking up for him now:
“This Christmas has been quite good to me. My first semester back at school is over, I am with my family, and I am off home confinement… the holidays are going well for me.”
Scott hasn’t been sitting around idly since his release. Aside from spending time with his family and friends and buying a new home, Scott went back to school, finished his first semester and got some pretty good grades, despite ‘taking it easy’ with his 4 chosen classes:
BA 243 (Business Ethics) - B
Phil 014 (Love & Sex) - B+
Phil 012 (Symbolic Logic) - A-
Econ 002 (Microeconomics) - B
It’s good to hear from Scott but a little sad that we don’t hear anything from the other guys who also went to jail who must be going through similar experiences. I’m sure that everyone in the BitTorrent community wishes them well, whatever they might be doing.
Final word from Scott: “Everyone have a Happy Holiday Season”
Previously: The Pirate Bay: Torrents and Peers Double in 2007
Next: IFPI: ISPs Should Block BitTorrent and The Pirate Bay
39 Responses
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eh, hillary isn’t on top of my list just cause she doesn’t think gays should get married. she’s trying to make everyone happy and won’t get elected cause of that. we need a mix of ron paul and obama. ron paul’s (semi)pro-piracy and obama’s pro-gay marriage.
but yea, i say down with society and government, the only 2 groups of people i’ve ever heard of that had any idea of the right way to live life were taoists and native americans. we don’t need shit governments with egotistic people with superiority problems, we need some equality. bring forth the revolution!
Jail for sharing shitty content. Movies that our parents tell us aren’t as important as homework, or family life… These are worthy of the highest ‘minds’ in government wasting public resources and ruining perfectly harmless people’s lives.
Part of the problem, is people quit paying the shit prices to go and be stuck in a theatre… Period. THAT model for viewing the movie is dead, dead, dead. Ain’t never coming back the way they hope. They make family breadwinners work too fucking hard in life just to get by,– to feel bad for the HUGE, HUUUGGGEEE companies shrinking coke budgets. Hey all you corporate types out there… The ones who want ME and people like me behind bars or under house arrest or carrying a criminal record… Look at me right now. Right in my face… You see the bloodthirsty sneer? The utter contempt in my eyes? Now hear me speak: “You are powerless and foolish. You make fantasies ans expect everyone is life to be part of your biggest fantasy– that you even matter. Remotely. Now get out of here, before I boot your ass up to your little ponytail.”
Vote Ron Paul 2008 For President
There are more of us then their are of them
The only difference is that they have weapons
Criminals love weapons
Criminals love to scare the crap using all kind of method so that the population are fearful of them.
Good people go to jail
Bad people are cops, governments, cia, fbi… the secret service or secret police
But even without weapons we can win
Use your intelligence
We need a plan that will not fail us
That will free everyone like oxygen and sunlight.
Since most have their head buried in the quick sand
We gotta wakeup the world to the reality that we live in
That we are not free
That we are slaves
Hey. whats the fun of doing something illegal if their isnt a risk behind it :P
jk. that was a little harsh for just sharing a little something…
p.s. i think tom cruise and his evil group of s****t***g***s where behind it.
America, we have the best politicians that money can buy!
A government by the corporations, of the corporations, for the corporations.
In the dark ages, the Catholic church controlled the governments of the world and destroyed people’s lives in an attempt to stamp out heresy. Today, the media corporations control the governments of the world and destroy people’s lives in an attempt to stamp out copyright infringement.
White Corporate AmeriKKKa the real threat
thats sucks too hard… i mean fuck… 5 months Jail for sharing a stupid waste of time movie file OMG! i cant believe it what kind of justice is that thank god i am not in America cause i have 500 movies in my HD all downloaded from net i probably spent 50 years to jail!
ace
Scott, I’m here to wish you the best! Good luck!
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