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Actor admits sex with boys
Oct 29, 2008

NEW JERSEY - A SMALL-TIME New Jersey actor admitted in federal court on Tuesday that he travelled to Thailand on several occasions to film himself having sex with boys as young as 6 years old.

Wayne Nelson Corliss faces up to 75 years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts, including production and possession of child pornography and travelling to foreign countries to engage in illicit sexual activities.

U.S. District Judge Joseph A. Greenaway Jr scheduled sentencing for Feb 9.

'This is undoubtedly among the most depraved conduct we've seen, with the extent of the victimisation,' said Mr Michael Drewniak, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office in Newark.

Corliss, 59, a part-time actor from northern New Jersey, has been described by friends and colleagues as an educated, witty man who made extra money by dressing up as Santa Claus and painting faces at children's parties.

He was arrested in May, 48 hours after Interpol, the international police organisation, made a public plea for help identifying a man seen in pictures seized in Norway in 2006.

Once the request was made, leads received in the first 24 hours helped authorities find Corliss in his Union City apartment.

In his plea before Greenaway on Tuesday, Corliss admitted corresponding by e-mail with John Wrenshall, a Canadian citizen living in Thailand who set up a 'sponsorship' system in which Corliss and other men could pay him up to $200 for access to boys as young as 4 years old.

Corliss admitted staying at Wrenshall's home with two other Americans, Alabama residents Mitchell Jackson and Burgess Lee Burgess, in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and having sex with the boys and filming the activities. He admitted performing oral sex on two boys, one aged 6 and another aged 9, during the visits.

Burgess and Jackson have been indicted and are awaiting trial in Alabama, and authorities are continuing to investigate Wrenshall, according to the US Attorney's Office.

The white-haired, bespectacled Corliss, wearing a green prison jumpsuit, answered Greenaway's questions briefly and in a soft voice during the 45-minute hearing.

He began sobbing at one point while Assistant US Attorney Lee Vartan read off the details behind each of the criminal counts, but eventually composed himself.

The most serious count, producing child pornography, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The three counts of travelling abroad for illicit sexual activities each carry a 15-year maximum sentence, and possession of child pornography has a 10-year maximum sentence.

Each count also includes a fine up to $250,000 (S$373,285). Mr Chester Keller, a public defender representing Corliss, did not respond to a telephone message left at his office on Tuesday seeking comment. -- AP

straitstimes.com

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