February 21, 2008
Brown Freshman Dismissed In Light of Child Porn Charges
CHN Staff Report
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brown freshman forward Harrison Zolnierczyk is facing charges resulting from a fall 2006 incident when, according to the Canwest News Service in Canada, Zolnierczyk and then-teammate Bradley Harding made a sex tape with a teenage girl and posted it on the YouTube website.
Zolnierczyk has been dismissed from the hockey team, but will remain in school.
On July 9, 2007, Zolnierczyk and Harding were charged with four specific counts: surreptitiously making a recording in a situation where a reasonable expectation of privacy is expected, knowingly distributing that recording, possessing child pornography and distributing child pornography.
"We're still in the preliminary stages," said Zolnierczyk's lawyer, Richard Fowler, to the Providence Journal. "There is a discussion taking place, but I can't tell you anything about those discussions. I can say that the charges on their face are more serious than the circumstances."
Zolnierczyk and Harding were teammates for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Harding has pleaded guilty to the above charges and is awaiting sentencing, and Zolnierczyk will appear in the Port Alberni Provincial Court in Canada on March 13.
According to Cp. Rob Foster of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the charges are punishable by jail time.
Zolnierczyk has appeared in 16 games for Brown this season, including last weekend's games against Clarkson and St. Lawrence. The Toronto native has no goals and three assists and has a -4 rating so far this season.
Check please!
Feb 21 2008, 3:16 pm by Chris Haake, Grand Forks ND
Some of these teams need to do a better job of back ground investigations on the athletes they are recruiting. This is serious.
Feb 21 2008, 3:27 pm by Melvin, Grand Forks
if this is true this kid will get some serious jail time
Feb 21 2008, 3:51 pm by SARGE, MN
Isn't Brown an Ivy League school? I can understand high-school mistakes, but how can a kid this dumb get into a school with such a high academic reputation? Making a tape? Fine. Posting it you YouTube? He'll get what he deserves for being a moron.
Feb 21 2008, 8:39 pm by Mike, NYC
Dammit, Zoly was one of my favorite players too...hard worker, fast, always put the team first, no penalties...this is really disturbing.
Feb 21 2008, 10:57 pm by Dave, Providence
And yes Mike, Brown is an Ivy League school. I can't believe an Ivy League student would do that either.
Feb 21 2008, 10:59 pm by Dave, Providence
Obviously he doesn't represent our school. He's a recruit.
Feb 22 2008, 12:18 am by
High school teenagers filming themselves having sex, I don't know, crap happens. It's not like he was a senior in college and she was a freshman in high school. Probation, a fine and a swift kick on the ass. Not worthy of jail time.
Feb 22 2008, 6:42 am by j buss seattle
I agree with you buss. we all did stupid things that we regret when we were younger. There is not mention of the girl claiming she didn't know about the tape or was forced, so the only dumb thing they did was put it on YouTube. This is absolutely not jail time material. I sure hope he doesn't get kicked out of school. That would be a shame. Brown is a great university.
Feb 22 2008, 11:32 am by Richfield, MN
You don't know how old she is. It says she's a teenager. Could have been 13, which is why jail is being mentioned. And yes, he represents Brown because he's a student there/
Feb 22 2008, 12:04 pm by
Buss.... You ARE kidding, aren't you? Do you think these charges were brought because the "teenage girl" was thought to be 19? This is one of those situations where waiting until the kid is proven guilty in a court of law is NOT the proper response. Good for the school for taking an early stand on this one.
Feb 22 2008, 12:33 pm by Nelson, Lansing MI
If he did it he should go to jail. End of story. This is serious stuff.
Feb 22 2008, 1:04 pm by Rob, Albuquerque
No the girl was underaged according to Canadian press - not an 18 or 19 year old - so it is serious.
Feb 23 2008, 9:05 pm by Chris, Hartford
i agree with mike from NYC this guy is a moron
Feb 27 2008, 10:51 am by SARGE, MN
